Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 12, 2020
First Reading: Philemon 1.7-20
7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,9Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Psalm 146
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Luke 17.20-25
20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.25But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about transformation, reconciliation, and the presence of God's Kingdom. The first reading from Philemon highlights Paul's heartfelt plea to Philemon to accept Onesimus, a former slave, as a brother in Christ. This letter underscores the transformative power of faith, where social hierarchies are transcended by the unity found in Christ. Paul's request is not just about reconciliation but also about recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual as a child of God.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom of God. He explains that the Kingdom is not something to be observed with signs or external events but is already present within us. This internal reality of God's Kingdom challenges us to seek spiritual growth and divine presence in our daily lives. Jesus warns against being misled by false claims of the Messiah's arrival, emphasizing that the Kingdom's presence is more about inner transformation than external spectacle.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we view others and our own spirituality. Philemon's story calls us to treat everyone with love and respect, seeing the divine in each person. The Gospel reminds us that true spiritual growth is an internal journey, where God's presence is cultivated in our hearts. As we navigate our daily lives, may we embrace the transformative power of faith, fostering reconciliation and recognizing the ever-present Kingdom of God within us. Let us strive to live with compassion and mindfulness of God's presence, allowing it to guide our interactions and inner peace.