Daily Readings - Thu Oct 31 2019
Romans
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke
31The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.32And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.33Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!35Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and the challenges of living out that love in a world often resistant to it. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul assures us that nothing—no trial, no suffering, no power in creation—can separate us from the love of God poured into our hearts through Christ Jesus. This is a profound statement of hope and trust, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, we are not alone or abandoned. God’s love is not conditional; it is not withdrawn when we face difficulty or when we fail. It endures all things, and it is this love that gives us the strength to overcome every adversity.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks with both determination and sorrow. He knows that Herod seeks to kill him, yet he continues his mission, undeterred. He laments over Jerusalem, which has rejected the prophets and refused to accept the love and protection he offers. Jesus’ words reveal the tension between the steadfastness of God’s love and the freedom of human response. While God’s love is unwavering, we are free to accept or reject it. Jesus’ sorrow over Jerusalem is a reminder that God’s love is not imposed; it must be received with openness and humility.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out God’s love in our own lives. Like St. Paul, we are to trust in the unshakable love of God, even when the world around us seems hostile or uncertain. Like Jesus, we are to persevere in our mission to share that love, even when it is rejected. In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with faith, loving those who may not love us in return, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to follow Christ. Let us ask ourselves: Do I truly trust in God’s love? Am I willing to share that love, even when it is difficult? May we, like Jesus, embrace the cross with courage and hope, knowing that God’s love is our ultimate victory.