Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 12, 2021
First Reading: Wisdom 13.1-9
This reading is not available in the KJV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.
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: Luke 17.26-37
26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.32Remember Lot's wife.33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between creation, judgment, and our ultimate encounter with God. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear a critique of those who fail to recognize the true God despite the beauty and order of creation. The author laments that people often mistake the works of God’s hands—like the sun, moon, and natural elements—as gods themselves, rather than acknowledging the Creator who surpasses all His creation. This passage reminds us that creation is not an end in itself but a pointer to the One who brought it all into being. It warns against the idolatry of forgetting the transcendent God in favor of lesser, finite realities.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the examples of Noah’s flood and the destruction of Sodom to warn His listeners about the suddenness of God’s judgment. He emphasizes that life will seem normal—people will be eating, drinking, buying, and selling—right up until the moment of reckoning. Jesus calls His followers to be vigilant and detached from worldly concerns, urging them not to look back or cling to earthly possessions when the time of reckoning comes. The passage concludes with the enigmatic image of eagles gathering where the body is, suggesting that true discipleship requires a radical orientation toward God’s will.
Together, these readings challenge us to live with a deeper awareness of God’s presence and purpose in our lives. While the first reading warns against reducing God to His creation, the Gospel warns against becoming so consumed by the world that we fail to recognize the signs of God’s action. In our daily lives, this means cultivating a sense of detachment, not in the sense of rejecting the world, but in the sense of not being controlled by it. It means seeking God in all things, recognizing His hand in creation, and staying attentive to His call. Ultimately, these readings remind us that our true home is not in this world but in the eternal life that God offers. Let us strive to live with our hearts fixed on Him, ready to respond whenever He calls.