Daily Readings - Sat Oct 30 2021
Romans
1I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel:11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.27And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."28As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,29for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Luke
1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, God’s plan of salvation, and the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes that God has not rejected his chosen people, Israel. He explains that while some of Israel has stumbled, this has allowed the Gentiles to be incorporated into God’s plan of salvation. Paul makes it clear that this is part of a larger mystery: Israel’s partial blindness is temporary, and in the end, all of Israel will be saved. This passage reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the unity of his plan for all people.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches a lesson in humility through a parable about seating at a banquet. He warns against seeking the highest places, as this can lead to embarrassment when someone more honored takes their rightful place. Instead, Jesus advises taking the lowest place, trusting that the host will elevate us if it is appropriate. This teaching is not just about social etiquette; it is a spiritual lesson about the importance of humility. Jesus makes it clear that exalting oneself leads to being humbled, while humbling oneself leads to being exalted.
These readings are connected by the theme of humility and trust in God’s plan. In Romans, Paul shows that Israel’s story is not one of rejection but of God’s broader plan to include all people. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus calls us to humility, recognizing that true greatness comes not from self-promotion but from surrendering to God’s will. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace humility, trusting that God’s plan is at work even when we cannot fully understand it. Let us seek to live with humility, recognizing that our true dignity comes from God, not from our own efforts.