Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 2, 2022
First Reading: Habakkuk 1.2-3; 2.2-4
2Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.3For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.4"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright- but the righteous will live by his faith -
Psalm 95
1Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.2Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.3For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.4In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.5The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;7for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,8do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert,9where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.10For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways."11So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest."
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1.6-8, 13-14
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Gospel: Luke 17.5-10
5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"6He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'?8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Habakkuk, the prophet cries out to God in frustration, questioning why injustice and suffering persist. God’s response is not an immediate resolution but a call to trust in His timing and plan. The vision, though delayed, will surely come to pass. This reminds us that our faith must endure even when the answers we seek are not immediate.
The second reading from 2 Timothy encourages us to embrace our faith with courage and perseverance. St. Paul reminds us that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, not fear. We are called to hold fast to the teachings of the Gospel, even when it is challenging. This reading complements the first by emphasizing that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to stand firm and trust in God’s grace, even in the face of adversity.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus teaching the disciples about the power of faith and the humility required of those who follow Him. Faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. Yet, Jesus also reminds us that serving God is not about seeking recognition or reward but about faithfully doing what is required of us. The readings together remind us that faith is a gift that must be nurtured, trusted, and lived out in humble service. Let us ask for the grace to grow in faith, to trust in God’s plan, and to serve Him with humility and perseverance.