Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 31, 2025
First Reading: Romans 9.1-5
1I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit--2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!8He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.10His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,11but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.14He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.17He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?18He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Luke 14.1-6
1One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.2And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.3And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"4But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.5And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?"6And they could not reply to these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful expressions of God’s love and mercy. The first reading from Romans reveals St. Paul’s deep anguish over the unbelief of his Jewish brothers. He expresses such a profound love for his people that he is willing to endure separation from Christ for their sake. This passage highlights the depth of divine love and the mystery of God’s plan for salvation. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus healing a man with edema on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees’ strict interpretation of the law. Jesus’ action underscores the importance of compassion and mercy, even in the face of rigid traditions.
The readings are connected by the theme of God’s love breaking through human limitations. In Romans, Paul’s sorrow reflects the tension between God’s universal plan and the particular history of Israel. In Luke, Jesus demonstrates that love and mercy must take precedence over legalistic interpretations of the law. Both readings remind us that God’s ways are not bound by human rules or expectations. Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath shows that true love cannot be confined to specific times or places—it must be lived out in concrete actions of compassion.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s love in our own lives? Are we like the Pharisees, focused on rules and appearances, or are we willing to follow Jesus’ example of selfless love and mercy? Let us examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that we prioritize compassion and kindness in our daily interactions. May we, like St. Paul, feel the depth of God’s love and, like Jesus, live it out in ways that bring healing and hope to those around us.