Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 3, 2019
First Reading: Wisdom 11.22 – 12.2
This reading is not available in the NIV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.
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.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1.11 – 2.2
11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Luke 19.1-10
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of God’s boundless mercy, His love for all creation, and the call to repentance and conversion. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we are told that God, though all-powerful, is merciful and loving, sparing all things because they are His. He hates nothing He has made and offers forgiveness to those who turn from sin. This passage emphasizes God’s universal love and His desire to restore all things to Himself. The second reading from 2 Thessalonians encourages us to live virtuous lives, trusting in God’s grace and avoiding false alarms about the Lord’s return. It reminds us to remain steadfast in faith and not be swayed by fear or misinformation.
The Gospel tells the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who, despite his wealth and status, felt a deep longing to see Jesus. His small stature and the crowds around Jesus could have been obstacles, but Zacchaeus’ determination led him to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of the Lord. Jesus, seeing his desire, calls him down and chooses to stay in his home. This act of divine initiative sparks Zacchaeus’ repentance, and he vows to give half his goods to the poor and repay fourfold those he has cheated. Jesus declares that salvation has come to Zacchaeus’ house, not because of Zacchaeus’ actions, but because he, too, is a son of Abraham—chosen by God’s grace.
These readings are deeply connected. The Book of Wisdom sets the stage by describing God’s merciful nature, while 2 Thessalonians calls us to live in a way worthy of God’s calling. The Gospel then illustrates this in action through Zacchaeus’ story. Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus shows us that God’s mercy is always available, even to those society might deem unworthy. His repentance and generosity are not the cause of his salvation but the fruit of God’s grace. Today, we are invited to reflect on our own lives: Are we open to God’s mercy? Are we willing to let go of sin and embrace a life of love and generosity? Let us remember that salvation is not something we earn but something we receive when we open our hearts to God’s love. Like Zacchaeus, may we humbly welcome Jesus into our lives and allow His grace to transform us.