Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 4, 2018
First Reading: Deuteronomy 6.2-6
2That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
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: Hebrews 7.23-28
23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Gospel: Mark 12.28-34
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the essence of our faith through three key texts. The first, from Deuteronomy, reminds us to fear God, keep His commandments, and love Him with all our being. This passage, known as the Shema, is a cornerstone of Jewish faith, emphasizing the oneness of God and the commandment to love Him completely. Moses delivers this message as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land, highlighting the importance of passing these teachings to future generations.
The Gospel from Mark builds on this foundation. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus quotes the Shema and adds the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. This exchange with a scribe underscores the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, showing that Jesus' teachings are not new but fulfill the existing scriptures. The scribe's agreement and Jesus' commendation illustrate that understanding and living these commandments is vital for entering the kingdom of God.
Hebrews provides the bridge, describing Jesus as the perfect High Priest. Unlike mortal priests, Jesus offers a single, sufficient sacrifice for all sins. His immortality means His priesthood is eternal, continually interceding for us. This reading connects to the others by showing how Jesus enables us to fulfill the commandments through His sacrifice, providing the grace to love deeply.
In daily life, these teachings call us to prioritize loving God and our neighbors. It's not just about rituals but about the heart. Jesus' sacrifice gives us the means to live these commandments, emphasizing that true spirituality is rooted in love. As we reflect, let us remember that through Jesus, we have the grace to love more deeply, fulfilling the greatest commandments in our lives.