Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 14, 2023
First Reading: Wisdom 2.23 – 3.9
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Psalm 34
1I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Gospel: Luke 17.7-10
7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'?8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that God created humanity to be immortal, made in His image and likeness. However, through the envy of the devil, death entered the world. Yet, the souls of the just are in God’s hands, and no torment of death will touch them. Though they may suffer in the eyes of the foolish, their hope is rooted in immortality. This passage reassures us that those who trust in God will understand the truth and find peace in His love. It is a powerful reminder of the eternal nature of the soul and the ultimate triumph of the just.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a servant and master, emphasizing the importance of humility. He asks if a master would thank a servant for doing their duty, implying that the servant should not expect praise for fulfilling their responsibilities. Jesus then applies this to His disciples, saying that when they have done all that is commanded, they should humbly acknowledge that they are merely doing what is expected of them. This teaching challenges us to embrace a spirit of humility and selflessness in our service to God and others.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to live with humility. The first reading encourages us to see beyond the trials of this life, knowing that our ultimate reward is eternal peace with God. The Gospel reminds us that our efforts to follow God’s will are not for personal recognition but as an act of love and obedience. In our daily lives, let us face challenges with faith, knowing that God tests and refines us like gold in a furnace. Let us also serve others without seeking praise, recognizing that our true reward comes from being faithful stewards of God’s grace. May we strive to live as children of God, trusting in His wisdom and walking in humility.