Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 14, 2023

First Reading: Joel 3.12-21

¹²Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.¹³Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.¹⁴Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.¹⁵The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.¹⁶The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.¹⁷So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.¹⁹Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.²⁰But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.²¹For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

Psalm 97

Psalms

Chapter 97

¹The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.²Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.³A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.⁴His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.⁵The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.⁶The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.⁷Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.⁸Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.⁹For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.¹⁰Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.¹¹Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.¹²Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Gospel: Luke 11.27-28

Luke

Chapter 11

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about God's judgment, restoration, and the path to true blessedness. The First Reading from Joel paints a vivid picture of the Day of the Lord, a time of reckoning where nations are judged in the valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel's prophecy is both a warning and a promise—while there is desolation for the unrepentant, there is also restoration for Judah, with imagery of abundance and a fountain from the Lord's house bringing life to the desert. This passage reminds us that God's justice is not just punitive but also restorative, offering hope to those who remain faithful. The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the living out of God's word. When a woman praises Jesus' mother, He responds by emphasizing that true blessedness comes not from physical connection but from hearing and keeping God's word. This teaching underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness in our daily lives. Jesus is not diminishing the value of Mary's role but highlighting that spiritual blessedness surpasses physical ties. This message aligns with Joel's themes of judgment and restoration, as both readings call us to align our lives with God's will. As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. Are we living according to God's word, preparing for His judgment, and trusting in His plan? The moral lesson here is clear: true blessedness is found in a life of faith and obedience. Let us strive to keep God's word close to our hearts, knowing that this path leads to restoration and eternal life. In doing so, we embody the hope and justice that Joel prophesied and the spiritual blessedness that Jesus taught.