Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 6, 2023
First Reading: Romans 11.29-36
29for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"35"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Psalm 69
1Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.2I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.3I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.4Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.5You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.6May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.7For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.8I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons;9for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.10When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;11when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.12Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.13But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.14Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.15Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.16Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.17Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.18Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.19You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.20Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.21They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.22May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.24Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.25May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.26For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.27Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.28May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.29I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.30I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.31This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.32The poor will see and be glad- you who seek God, may your hearts live!33The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,35for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it;36the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
Gospel: Luke 14.12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of God's boundless mercy and the call to live with humility and generosity. The passage from Romans highlights the mystery of God's ways, emphasizing that His mercy is universal and beyond human comprehension. It underscores that we are all recipients of His grace, regardless of our past beliefs or actions. The Gospel from Luke complements this by offering a practical application of living out God's mercy. Jesus teaches us to extend hospitality not to those who can repay us but to those on the margins—the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. This act of selfless generosity reflects the heart of God, who showers mercy on all without expectation of return.
The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on God's universal and unconditional love. In Romans, we see that God's mercy is not limited by human unbelief or failure, and in Luke, we are challenged to mirror this mercy in our interactions with others. Jesus' teaching on hospitality is not just about who we invite to our tables but about how we view and treat all people. It calls us to move beyond reciprocal relationships and instead embrace a way of living that prioritizes compassion and kindness, especially toward those often overlooked.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can live out this mercy and generosity in our daily lives. It might mean reaching out to someone who feels excluded, offering a kind word to someone who needs encouragement, or simply being present for those who feel alone. Remember, our actions of love and mercy are not for earthly reward but for the promise of eternal life. May we trust in God's wisdom and ways, even when they seem incomprehensible, and may we strive to be vessels of His mercy in a world that deeply needs it.