Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 7, 2025
First Reading: Romans 15.14-21
14I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.15But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;20and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,21but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
Psalm 98
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!8Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together9before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Gospel: Luke 16.1-8
1He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.2And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'3And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'5So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'6He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'7Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'8The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
Sermon
The first reading from Romans and the Gospel from Luke both invite us to reflect on the themes of responsibility, prudence, and trust in God’s providence. In Romans, St. Paul speaks of his missionary work among the Gentiles, emphasizing that his role is not to build on someone else’s foundation but to preach the Gospel where it has not been heard. He humbly acknowledges that his accomplishments are not his own but the work of Christ through him. This passage reminds us that our talents, resources, and opportunities are gifts from God, and we are called to use them wisely for the sake of others and the spread of the Gospel.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest steward, who, upon being dismissed, shrewdly secures his future by reducing the debts of his master’s clients. While the steward’s actions are morally questionable, Jesus praises his prudence, highlighting the lesson that the “sons of this age” often show more cleverness in worldly affairs than the “sons of light” do in spiritual matters. This parable challenges us to think about how we use the resources and opportunities God has given us. Are we as clever and resourceful in managing our spiritual lives as we are in our earthly affairs?
Both readings call us to reflect on our stewardship of God’s gifts. St. Paul’s missionary zeal and the steward’s prudence remind us that we are called to be responsible and wise in how we live our lives. In our daily lives, we are invited to use our talents, time, and resources in a way that honors God and serves others. Let us ask ourselves: Am I using what God has given me to build up the Kingdom of God, or am I squandering these gifts on fleeting worldly concerns? May we strive to be as diligent in our spiritual lives as we are in our earthly pursuits, trusting that God will provide for us as we seek to live faithfully in His service.