Daily Readings - Tue Nov 04 2025
Romans
5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.
Luke
15When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"16But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.17And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'19And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'20And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'21So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'22And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'23And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.24For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to live as members of God’s family, united in Christ and committed to serving one another with humility and love. The first reading from Romans emphasizes that we are one body in Christ, each with unique gifts and responsibilities. Paul urges us to use these gifts generously and sincerely, avoiding pretense and self-importance. He calls us to live with genuine love, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep. This passage challenges us to embrace our interconnectedness and to live in harmony, supporting one another in our shared journey of faith.
The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary message through the parable of the great feast. When the invited guests make excuses and refuse the invitation, the host opens his table to the poor, the blind, and the lame—those often overlooked by society. This story reflects God’s desire to include all people in His kingdom, especially those who are marginalized or forgotten. It also serves as a warning against complacency and self-absorption. Just as the guests in the parable missed the opportunity to share in the feast, we risk missing the deeper invitation to live in communion with God and with one another if we allow worldly concerns or selfishness to distract us.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we using the gifts God has given us to serve others, or are we holding them back? Do we welcome the marginalized and the overlooked, or do we allow our own comfort and excuses to keep us isolated? Let us strive to live with the humility and generosity that Paul describes, and let us respond eagerly to God’s invitation to the feast of life. May we remember that true joy and fulfillment come not from what we possess or achieve, but from living in love and service to others, just as Christ has shown us.