Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 6, 2019
First Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Psalm 112
1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Gospel: Luke 14.25-33
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of love and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He lists several commandments—against adultery, murder, theft, false testimony, and coveting—and then sums them up in one simple principle: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This is not just a suggestion but the very essence of living a Christian life. Paul emphasizes that love does no harm to others, and therefore, it is the plenitude of the law.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark and challenging message about the cost of discipleship. He says that to follow him, one must be willing to "hate" even their closest family members and their own life. This does not mean literal hatred but rather a willingness to prioritize God above all else. Jesus uses two parables to drive home his point: the builder who must calculate the cost of constructing a tower and the king who must assess his chances of winning a war. Both parables emphasize the need for discernment and commitment. Jesus is not asking us to renounce our families or our lives out of hatred but to recognize that following him requires a radical reordering of our priorities. We must be willing to let go of everything that stands in the way of our relationship with him.
These readings remind us that love and discipleship are deeply intertwined. Love, as St. Paul teaches, is not just a feeling but a choice to put the needs of others before our own. At the same time, Jesus calls us to a radical commitment, one that requires us to examine our lives and priorities. In our daily lives, this means asking ourselves: Are we willing to love even when it is difficult? Are we willing to let go of attachments that keep us from following Christ more closely? The moral lesson is clear: true love and true discipleship require sacrifice, but they also bring us closer to God and to one another. Let us strive to live out this love and commitment in our everyday lives.