Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 21, 2017
First Reading: Romans 4.13, 16-18
13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,17As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Luke 12.8-12
8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.10And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.11And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and trust in our relationship with God. In the first reading from Romans, Paul emphasizes that Abraham's faith, not the law, was the foundation of the promise he received from God. This promise extends to all who share Abraham's faith, making us part of a larger family through grace. The context of this passage is Paul's discussion on the relationship between faith and the law, highlighting that faith is the cornerstone of our inheritance in God's plan.
The Gospel from Luke complements this message by focusing on the importance of confessing Jesus before others and trusting in the Holy Spirit during trials. Jesus teaches that our acknowledgment of him will be acknowledged by him in heaven, while denial will lead to separation. The context here is Jesus preparing his disciples for the challenges they will face, reassuring them that the Holy Spirit will guide their words and actions. Together, these readings underscore the dual aspects of faith: as the foundation of our relationship with God and as the active trust we need in daily life.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to embrace faith as both a belief and a practice. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Similarly, we are urged to be bold in our confession of Jesus, trusting that the Holy Spirit will empower us in moments of challenge. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not passive but an active trust that shapes our actions and decisions, leading us to a deeper and more authentic relationship with God.