Daily Readings - Tue Nov 04 2025
Romans
5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Luke
15And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to live as members of God’s family, united in Christ and committed to serving one another with humility and love. The first reading from Romans emphasizes that we are one body in Christ, each with unique gifts and responsibilities. Paul urges us to use these gifts generously and sincerely, avoiding pretense and self-importance. He calls us to live with genuine love, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep. This passage challenges us to embrace our interconnectedness and to live in harmony, supporting one another in our shared journey of faith.
The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary message through the parable of the great feast. When the invited guests make excuses and refuse the invitation, the host opens his table to the poor, the blind, and the lame—those often overlooked by society. This story reflects God’s desire to include all people in His kingdom, especially those who are marginalized or forgotten. It also serves as a warning against complacency and self-absorption. Just as the guests in the parable missed the opportunity to share in the feast, we risk missing the deeper invitation to live in communion with God and with one another if we allow worldly concerns or selfishness to distract us.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we using the gifts God has given us to serve others, or are we holding them back? Do we welcome the marginalized and the overlooked, or do we allow our own comfort and excuses to keep us isolated? Let us strive to live with the humility and generosity that Paul describes, and let us respond eagerly to God’s invitation to the feast of life. May we remember that true joy and fulfillment come not from what we possess or achieve, but from living in love and service to others, just as Christ has shown us.