Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 1, 2023
First Reading: Ezekiel 18.25-28
25"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?26If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die.27But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.28Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die.
Psalm 25
1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;2in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.3No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.4Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;5guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.6Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.9He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.10All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.11For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.12Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.13He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.14The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.15My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.16Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.18Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.19See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!20Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.21May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.22Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Second Reading: Philippians 2.1-5
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Gospel: Matthew 21.28-32
28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'29"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?The first," they answered.32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between our actions, our faith, and our understanding of God's justice. In Ezekiel, we hear the prophet addressing the Israelites who question God's fairness. Ezekiel makes it clear that God's ways are just, and it is our own actions that determine our fate. He emphasizes that turning away from sin and towards justice leads to life, while stubbornly clinging to wickedness leads to death. This reading underscores the importance of personal responsibility and the opportunity for repentance.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about two sons, one who refuses to work in the vineyard but later repents and goes, and another who agrees to go but does not follow through. Jesus asks which of the two did the will of the father, and the answer is clear: it is the one who, despite initial reluctance, ultimately obeyed. This parable challenges us to examine our own response to God's call. It is not the promises we make but the actions we take that truly matter. Jesus then applies this lesson to the tax collectors and prostitutes who, despite their sinful lives, repented and believed in John the Baptist, while the religious leaders, who should have known better, refused to repent.
The second reading from Philippians bridges these two messages by emphasizing the importance of humility and selflessness. Paul encourages the community to live with one mind and one heart, avoiding contention and vain glory. He calls us to esteem others better than ourselves and to look out for their interests. This is the same mindset that Jesus had, as he humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross. Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in action, marked by humility, repentance, and a commitment to doing God's will. May we strive to be like the first son, who despite his initial reluctance, ultimately chose to obey, and may we embrace the humility and selflessness that Jesus modeled for us.