Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 8, 2023
First Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery,Do not murder,Do not steal,Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.2His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.5Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.6Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.7He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.10The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Gospel: Luke 14.25-33
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the essence of love and the cost of discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He writes that whoever loves their neighbor has fulfilled the entire law, for love does no harm to others. This passage emphasizes that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to live in a way that prioritizes the well-being of others above our own desires.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark challenge to those who would follow him. He says that to be his disciple, one must be willing to "hate" even their closest family members and their own life, and to take up their cross. This does not mean literal hatred but rather a willingness to prioritize God above all else. Jesus uses the parables of the builder and the king to illustrate the need for discernment and commitment. Just as a builder calculates the cost of a tower or a king assesses his ability to go to war, we must be willing to renounce all that we possess and take up the cross if we are to be true disciples.
These readings are deeply connected. While Romans focuses on the transformative power of love, the Gospel emphasizes the radical commitment required to live out that love. Together, they call us to a life of self-sacrifice and devotion. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing love in our actions and relationships, even when it is difficult. It also means being honest about the costs of following Christ and being willing to let go of anything that stands in the way of our relationship with him. Let us reflect on whether we are truly living as disciples, bearing our crosses with faith and trust in God’s plan.