Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 29, 2017
First Reading: Exodus 22.21-27
21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.26If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:27For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Psalm 18
1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.15Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.33He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1.5c-10
5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Gospel: Matthew 22.34-40
34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38This is the first and great commandment.39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of God’s law and the call to live a life of love, compassion, and faith. The first reading from Exodus emphasizes the importance of treating the vulnerable—newcomers, widows, orphans, and the poor—with justice and kindness. This passage reflects God’s special care for those who are marginalized and reminds us that our actions toward them are actions toward God. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians highlights the transformative power of the Gospel. The early Christian community in Thessalonica became a model of faith and joy, even in the face of suffering, because they embraced the Word of God with openness and courage. Their example encourages us to live our faith with authenticity and enthusiasm, inspiring others to do the same. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. These two commandments, Jesus says, are the foundation of the entire law and the prophets.
These readings are deeply connected. The command to love God and neighbor is not just a moral rule; it is the essence of who God is and how He calls us to live. In Exodus, we see this love expressed in concrete actions of justice and compassion toward the vulnerable. In Thessalonians, we see this love lived out in the joy and perseverance of the early Christians, who became a beacon of hope for others. In Matthew, Jesus simplifies the law to its core: love. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not just about words or rules but about how we live out our relationship with God and with one another.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out the commandment to love? Am I treating others with the same compassion and justice that God shows to me? Am I allowing the Gospel to transform my life and inspire others? Let us strive to be like the Thessalonians, who embraced the Word with joy and became a light to those around them. Let us also remember that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act with kindness, to stand with the vulnerable, and to reflect God’s love in all we do. May we, like the early Christians, become models of faith and love, shining the light of Christ in a world that so desperately needs it.