Daily Readings - Fri Oct 03 2025

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on sin, repentance, and judgment. The first reading from Baruch is a communal confession of sin, spoken on behalf of the Jewish people during their exile in Babylon. The author acknowledges the people’s unfaithfulness to God, their refusal to listen to the prophets, and their rebellion against the commandments. This confession is not just an admission of guilt but also an act of humility, recognizing that their suffering is a consequence of their sins. The reading ends with a glimmer of hope, as the people turn back to God, seeking mercy and restoration. In the Gospel, Jesus delivers a stern warning to the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. These towns, which had witnessed many miracles during Jesus’ ministry, are condemned for their lack of repentance. Jesus contrasts their hardness of heart with the hypothetical repentance of the pagan cities Tyre and Sidon, suggesting that even those who have not been given as much grace would have responded more faithfully. This passage underscores the gravity of rejecting God’s revelation and the consequences of failing to respond to His call. Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the exiled Jews in Baruch, we are called to acknowledge our sins and return to the Lord with humility and trust. Like the towns in Luke’s Gospel, we are reminded that God’s gifts and revelations come with great responsibility. We must not take His grace for granted or ignore the opportunities He gives us to repent and grow in holiness. Let us examine our hearts today, asking ourselves whether we are truly listening to God’s voice and responding with faith and obedience. May we, like the people in Baruch, find the courage to confess our sins and seek His mercy, and may we, like the towns Jesus addressed, avoid the hardness of heart that leads to judgment.