Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 26, 2018
First Reading: Ephesians 4.1-6
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;2for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory. Selah
Gospel: Luke 12.54-59
54He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does.55And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is.56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?57"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?58As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. "
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with two powerful messages that guide us in living a faithful and discerning Christian life. The first reading from Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul urges the community to embrace humility, patience, and love, emphasizing the importance of unity within the Body of Christ. He reminds us that we are called to one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that our actions should reflect this unity. The second reading from Luke 12:54-59 finds Jesus challenging the crowds to discern the signs of the times, just as they interpret weather signs. He warns against hypocrisy and encourages settling disputes promptly to avoid spiritual imprisonment.
These readings complement each other by highlighting the dual aspects of Christian living: inner virtues and outward actions. Ephesians focuses on the qualities that foster unity and harmony within the community, while Luke emphasizes the need for discernment and proactive resolve in our daily lives. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about internal dispositions but also about how we engage with the world around us.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to cultivate humility and patience in our interactions, striving to maintain unity in our communities. At the same time, we must be vigilant and discerning, addressing conflicts and injustices promptly. The moral lesson here is clear: a faithful life requires both inner transformation and outward action. By living with these virtues and discernments, we embody the unity and proactive faith that Jesus and Paul call us to, leading us closer to the Kingdom of God.