Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 11, 2023
First Reading: Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
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.
Gospel: Luke 16.9-15
9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about faith, gratitude, and the right use of resources. In the first reading from Romans, Paul sends greetings to various members of the early Christian community, expressing deep gratitude for their support and acknowledging their contributions to the spread of the Gospel. He concludes with a beautiful doxology, praising God for His wisdom and eternal plan. This passage reminds us of the importance of community, collaboration, and recognizing the role each person plays in the Body of Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches a parable about the proper use of material wealth. He urges us to use our resources wisely, not for selfish gain, but to build relationships and store up treasures in heaven. Jesus also warns against the danger of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money, emphasizing that our hearts must be aligned with God’s priorities.
The readings are connected by the theme of trust and faithfulness. In Romans, Paul trusts in God’s plan and the support of the community, while in the Gospel, Jesus calls us to trust in God’s providence rather than in wealth. Both readings challenge us to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to God. The early Christians in Rome were faithful in their support of Paul’s mission, and Jesus calls us to be faithful stewards of the resources we have been given. This faithfulness is not just about money but about how we live our lives in accordance with God’s will.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we use the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. Are we using them to build up the community and serve others, or are we allowing greed and selfishness to take root in our hearts? Let us strive to be faithful in small things, knowing that faithfulness in little leads to faithfulness in much. May we also cultivate gratitude for the people and blessings in our lives, just as Paul did. Ultimately, today’s readings remind us that our true treasure is not in this world but in the eternal life God promises us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on heaven and live in a way that reflects our ultimate allegiance to God.