Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 11, 2017
First Reading: Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.4They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.5Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.6Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.8Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.22I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.23Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.24Verse omitted from the New International Version25Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him--27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Psalm 145
1I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.2Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.4One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.5They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.6They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.7They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.9The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.10All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.11They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,12so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.14The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Gospel: Luke 16.9-15
9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the importance of community and the prudent use of resources. The first reading from Romans is a heartfelt farewell from Paul, where he acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and communities, highlighting the value of unity and mutual support. This passage emphasizes the strength found in shared faith and collaboration. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts focus to Jesus’ teachings on wealth and service, urging us to use our resources wisely and remain faithful in our stewardship, while cautioning against the pitfalls of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on relationships—whether with others or with material wealth. Paul’s letter underscores the bonds within the Christian community, while Jesus’ parable reminds us that our relationship with wealth is a reflection of our faithfulness. Both readings call us to trustworthiness and integrity, whether in our interactions with others or in our management of resources.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to be faithful in our duties and generous with our resources, using them to foster positive relationships and support others. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize God over material wealth, cultivate a spirit of service, and embrace generosity. By doing so, we build a community grounded in faith and trustworthiness, reflecting the values upheld by Paul and taught by Jesus.