Daily Readings - Sat Nov 30 2024
Romans
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matthew
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about faith and discipleship. The first reading from Romans emphasizes the universal call to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explains that confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection leads to salvation, a message meant for all people, regardless of background. He stresses the importance of hearing the Word of God, as faith comes through hearing, and thus, the necessity of evangelization to spread this message.
The Gospel from Matthew illustrates this call to discipleship through the story of Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These fishermen, upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, immediately left their nets to follow Him, demonstrating a radical and prompt response to God’s call. Their willingness to leave behind their livelihoods exemplifies the transformative power of faith and the commitment required to follow Christ.
These readings remind us that our faith journey begins with hearing the Word of God and responding with openness and courage. Just as the disciples left their nets, we too are called to let go of our attachments and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Moreover, we are reminded of our role in spreading the Gospel, ensuring that others can hear and respond to God’s call. May we embrace this call with the same immediacy and willingness as the disciples, living out our faith with conviction and sharing the Good News with the world.