Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 25, 2021
First Reading: Romans 8.11-17
11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.17Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Psalm 68
1May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.2As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.4Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds - his name is the LORD - and rejoice before him.5A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.6God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.7When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah8the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.9You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.10Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.11The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:12"Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder.13Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."14When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.15The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.16Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.18When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious- that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.19Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah20Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.21Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.22The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,23that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share."24Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.25In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines.26Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.27There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.28Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.29Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.30Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.31Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah33to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.34Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.35You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Gospel: Luke 13.10-17
10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of liberation and the transformative power of God's Spirit. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through the Spirit of God, we are no longer bound by the flesh but are called to live as children of God, heirs to eternal life. This Spirit not only gives us life but also adopts us into God's family, where we can confidently call Him "Abba, Father." The second reading from Luke's Gospel illustrates this liberation through the story of a woman healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. Despite the objections of the synagogue leaders, Jesus emphasizes that freedom from suffering is a divine priority, even on the Sabbath.
The connection between these readings lies in their focus on true freedom. In Romans, this freedom is from the slavery of sin and death, while in Luke, it is freedom from physical and spiritual bondage. Both readings challenge us to recognize that God's Spirit is always at work, bringing life and wholeness. The woman's healing on the Sabbath underscores Jesus' mission to free us from all forms of captivity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. This mirrors the Romans passage, where the Spirit's power leads to a life of sonship and inheritance.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I still held captive? Is it by fear, sin, or doubt? The readings invite us to trust in God's power to transform and liberate us. Just as the woman was healed and glorified God, we too can experience the Spirit's work in our lives. Let us embrace our identity as children of God and live in the freedom that comes from His Spirit. In doing so, we become partakers of His glory, both now and in eternity.