Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 26, 2022
First Reading: Ephesians 6.1-9
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
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.
Gospel: Luke 13.22-30
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"24He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on how our daily actions and choices align with God’s will. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us of the importance of living out our faith in our relationships and work. It calls children to obey their parents, parents to nurture their children with kindness, and servants and masters to treat each other with respect and fairness. This passage emphasizes that our actions are not just about human relationships but are ultimately directed toward God, who sees and rewards the good we do.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the ultimate goal of our lives: entering the kingdom of God. Jesus warns us that the path to salvation is narrow and requires effort and perseverance. He cautions against complacency, reminding us that merely being familiar with him or attending to religious practices is not enough. The dramatic image of people being excluded from the kingdom while others from all directions take their places at the table underscores the universality of God’s invitation and the need for humility and openness to His grace.
These readings remind us that living a life pleasing to God is both a moral and spiritual endeavor. While we strive to live with integrity in our relationships and work, we must also keep our eyes fixed on the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects God’s love and justice? Are we putting in the effort to grow in holiness and deepen our relationship with Him? May we embrace the challenge of living as true disciples, trusting in God’s mercy and striving to enter the kingdom with hearts open to His will.