Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 30, 2018
First Reading: Romans 10.9-18
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Gospel: Matthew 4.18-22
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, proclamation, and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. He underscores the universal call to salvation, insisting that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. Paul also highlights the necessity of preaching, for how can people believe if they have not heard the Word of God? He quotes Isaiah to express the mystery of unbelief but affirms that faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents a vivid scene of Jesus calling His first disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John are fishermen who, upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, immediately leave their nets and follow Him. This passage illustrates the radical response of faith, where the call of the Lord takes precedence over everything else. Their willingness to abandon their livelihood and family reflects the transformative power of encountering Christ.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The call to follow Jesus in the Gospel is the lived expression of the faith St. Paul describes in Romans. The apostles’ immediate response to Jesus’ invitation demonstrates the kind of faith that comes from hearing the Word of God. Their willingness to leave behind their old lives to become "fishers of men" shows how the Gospel message has the power to reorient our lives entirely. For us today, these readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s call. Are we open to hearing His Word? Are we willing to let go of our attachments to follow Him more closely? The moral lesson is clear: faith is not just a intellectual assent but a lived commitment to Jesus Christ. Let us ask for the grace to hear His voice and to follow Him with courage and generosity, trusting that He will use us to bring His light to a world in need.