Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 26, 2018
First Reading: Ephesians 4.1-6
1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Gospel: Luke 12.54-59
54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with two powerful messages that guide us in living a faithful and discerning Christian life. The first reading from Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul urges the community to embrace humility, patience, and love, emphasizing the importance of unity within the Body of Christ. He reminds us that we are called to one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that our actions should reflect this unity. The second reading from Luke 12:54-59 finds Jesus challenging the crowds to discern the signs of the times, just as they interpret weather signs. He warns against hypocrisy and encourages settling disputes promptly to avoid spiritual imprisonment.
These readings complement each other by highlighting the dual aspects of Christian living: inner virtues and outward actions. Ephesians focuses on the qualities that foster unity and harmony within the community, while Luke emphasizes the need for discernment and proactive resolve in our daily lives. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about internal dispositions but also about how we engage with the world around us.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to cultivate humility and patience in our interactions, striving to maintain unity in our communities. At the same time, we must be vigilant and discerning, addressing conflicts and injustices promptly. The moral lesson here is clear: a faithful life requires both inner transformation and outward action. By living with these virtues and discernments, we embody the unity and proactive faith that Jesus and Paul call us to, leading us closer to the Kingdom of God.