Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 3, 2017
First Reading: Romans 9.1-5
1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Psalm 147
1Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.2The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.6The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.14He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.16He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Luke 14.1-6
1And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.2And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?4And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;5And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?6And they could not answer him again to these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound expressions of compassion and concern for others, inviting us to reflect on the balance between law and love in our lives. The first reading from Romans reveals Paul’s deep sorrow over his Jewish brothers who have not yet come to faith in Christ. His anguish is so great that he would willingly suffer separation from Christ for their sake, a testament to his boundless love and solidarity with his people. This passage highlights Paul’s understanding of his mission to the Gentiles while remaining deeply connected to his Jewish roots.
The Gospel from Luke presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus heals a man with edema on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees’ rigid interpretation of the law. By comparing the healing to rescuing an animal that has fallen into a pit, Jesus emphasizes that compassion should never be confined by legalistic interpretations. This encounter underscores Jesus’ mission to bring wholeness to all people, regardless of circumstances.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not merely about rules but about embodying God’s love. Paul’s heartfelt concern and Jesus’ compassionate action call us to prioritize love and care for others in our daily lives. As we navigate our own challenges, let us remember to approach each situation with empathy and kindness, allowing God’s love to guide our actions. In doing so, we fulfill the essence of our faith, which is to love as God loves.