Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 29, 2024
First Reading: Ephesians 5.21-33
21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,30because we are members of his body.31"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Psalm 128
1Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!2You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.4Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.5The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!6May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!
Gospel: Luke 13.18-21
18He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?19It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."20And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?21It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of love and faith in our lives. The first reading from Ephesians presents a vision of marital relationships rooted in mutual submission and love, where husbands and wives are called to mirror the self-giving love of Christ for His Church. This passage, while often misunderstood, emphasizes the unity and sacrificial love that should characterize Christian relationships. The Gospel from Luke offers two parables—the mustard seed and the leaven—that illustrate the Kingdom of God as something small yet powerful, capable of transforming the world. These images remind us that even the smallest acts of faith and love can have a profound impact.
The readings are connected by the theme of growth and transformation. In Ephesians, the relationship between spouses is not just a human institution but a sacred reflection of Christ’s love for the Church. This relationship is meant to grow and flourish, much like the mustard seed that becomes a great tree. Similarly, the leaven in the Gospel works quietly yet effectively to transform the entire batch of dough, just as our everyday actions, inspired by faith, can shape the world around us. Both readings encourage us to see our daily lives as opportunities for spiritual growth and to trust in the power of God to bring about change.
As we apply these readings to our lives, let us remember that our relationships and actions, no matter how small they may seem, are part of a larger story of God’s Kingdom. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are called to embody the love and humility of Christ. Like the mustard seed and the leaven, our faith can grow and spread, transforming not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. May we embrace this call to be instruments of God’s love and trust in His promise to bring forth abundant life from even the smallest beginnings.