Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 3, 2023
First Reading: Romans 9.1-5
1I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.6The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.8He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.10His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;11the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.12Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,13for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.14He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.15He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.17He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?18He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.19He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Luke 14.1-6
1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.2There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.5Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?"6And they had nothing to say.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on compassion and the heart of God's law. The first reading from Romans reveals Paul's deep sorrow for his Jewish brothers who have not yet embraced Christ. His willingness to be cut off from Christ for their sake underscores his immense love and solidarity with his people. This passage is part of Paul's broader discussion on the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's plan, highlighting his emotional and spiritual investment in their salvation.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus healing a man with edema on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the law. Jesus' actions emphasize that compassion should not be confined by rules, teaching us to prioritize love and mercy. This healing is set during a meal at a Pharisee's house, a context that highlights Jesus' mission to redefine the law's purpose as an instrument of love rather than control.
Both readings converge on the theme of balancing law with compassion. Paul's anguish and Jesus' healing illustrate that true faith requires us to go beyond mere rule-following. In our daily lives, we face situations where strict adherence to rules might hinder acts of love. These readings encourage us to embrace compassion, understanding that love and mercy are at the core of God's will. Let us strive to live with hearts open to others, reflecting the love of Christ in all we do.