Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 30, 2022
First Reading: Wisdom 11.22 – 12.2
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Psalm 145
1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1.11 – 2.2
11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Luke 19.1-10
1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of God's mercy, the call to virtuous living, and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The Book of Wisdom reminds us of God's boundless love and mercy, emphasizing that He loves all creation and desires our repentance. This passage invites us to reflect on God's justice and compassion, encouraging us to seek His forgiveness and live in harmony with His will.
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians addresses the community's concerns about the Second Coming of the Lord. St. Paul urges the faithful not to be swayed by false claims but to remain steadfast in their faith and virtue. This reading calls us to patience and trust in God's plan, reminding us that our actions should reflect our belief in Christ's eventual triumph.
The Gospel of Luke presents Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose life is transformed by his encounter with Jesus. Despite his sinful past, Zacchaeus's openness to Christ leads him to a life of generosity and justice. This story illustrates that true conversion involves a change of heart and actions that reflect our commitment to living as disciples of Christ.
These readings remind us that our daily lives should be marked by a deep trust in God's providence and a willingness to respond to His grace. Just as Zacchaeus was transformed by his encounter with Jesus, we too can experience conversion in our own lives. Let us embrace God's mercy, live with faith and virtue, and be open to the transformative power of His love. In doing so, we become instruments of His grace, bringing hope and light to a world in need.