Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 1, 2021
First Reading: Baruch 1.15-22
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Psalm 79
1O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.2They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.3They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.4We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;7for they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his homeland.8Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.9Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.10Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.11May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.12Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord.13Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Gospel: Luke 10.13-16
13"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on sin, repentance, and God’s justice. The first reading from Baruch is a communal confession of sin, acknowledging Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The people recognize that their suffering is a consequence of their disobedience and lack of trust in God’s plan. This passage is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites are forced to confront their failures and seek mercy. The second reading from Luke finds Jesus addressing the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, which failed to repent despite witnessing miracles. Jesus laments their hardness of heart, contrasting their response with how even the historically sinful cities of Tyre and Sidon would have repented under such circumstances.
Both readings emphasize the importance of humility and self-awareness in our relationship with God. Baruch’s confession shows that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins and taking responsibility for our actions. Similarly, Jesus’ words in Luke highlight the gravity of rejecting God’s grace and the opportunities He gives us to turn back to Him. The connection between the two readings lies in their call to conversion. Whether in the Old Testament or the New, God’s people are invited to examine their hearts, recognize their sinfulness, and return to the Lord with sincerity.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where in our lives are we resisting God’s call to repentance? Are there areas where we, like the towns in Luke’s Gospel, have grown complacent or indifferent to God’s presence? Let us learn from the example of Baruch, who leads his people in a heartfelt confession of sin. May we, too, approach God with humility, acknowledging our failures and trusting in His mercy. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His grace, which calls us to live more faithfully as His disciples.