Daily Readings - Thu Oct 19 2023
Romans
21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Luke
47"Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them.48So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.'50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.52"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."53When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,54waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about justice, faith, and hypocrisy. The first reading from Romans emphasizes that God's justice is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the works of the law. Paul makes it clear that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but through faith, we are justified freely by God's grace. This grace is a gift, and it unites us in Christ, breaking down the barriers that once divided us.
In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They honor the prophets with tombs but reject the message of the prophets, just as their ancestors persecuted and killed them. Jesus points out that their actions reveal a deeper spiritual blindness—they have the key of knowledge but fail to use it to enter the Kingdom themselves, and they even prevent others from doing so. This is a stark warning against allowing religious practices and traditions to become empty rituals that obscure the truth of God's love and justice.
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes focus on outward appearances of faith—attending Mass, reciting prayers, or following rules—while neglecting the inner transformation that true faith requires. Paul reminds us that faith is not about earning God's favor through works but about trusting in His grace and living in a way that reflects His love. Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that we do not become like the Pharisees, who knew the law but missed the heart of God.
Let us ask ourselves: Are we living a faith that is authentic and transformative, or are we settling for a shallow religiosity? True faith calls us to humility, compassion, and a willingness to let go of our own self-righteousness. It invites us to embrace God's justice and mercy, not just with our minds, but with our hearts and lives. May we strive to be people of genuine faith, who walk in the light of God's grace and reflect His love to the world.