Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 3, 2024
Psalm 18
1I love you, O LORD, my strength.2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.3I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.4The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.5The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.6In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.7The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.8Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.9He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.12Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them.15The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.17He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.18They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.19He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.20The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.21For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.22All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.23I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.24The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.25To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,26to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.27You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.28You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.29With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.30As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.31For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?32It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.35You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.36You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.38I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.39You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.40You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD, but he did not answer.42I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets.43You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me.44As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cringe before me.45They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.46The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!47He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,48who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me.49Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.50He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
Gospel: Mark 12.28-34
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Sermon
In today's Gospel, we witness a meaningful encounter between Jesus and a scribe who approaches Him after hearing His wise responses to others. The scribe poses a question about the greatest commandment, prompting Jesus to recite the Shema from Deuteronomy, emphasizing love for God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus then adds a second commandment from Leviticus, instructing us to love our neighbor as ourselves. The scribe, in agreement, acknowledges the truth in Jesus' words, and Jesus commends him, noting he is close to the kingdom of God.
This passage occurs in the context of Jesus' time in Jerusalem, where He engages with various religious leaders, often facing challenging questions. Here, however, the interaction is uniquely positive, highlighting the harmony between Jesus' teachings and the scribe's understanding. The two commandments Jesus cites are central to His message, illustrating that love for God and neighbor are inseparable. This duality underscores that true faith is not merely about rituals but about the expression of love in our actions and attitudes.
In our daily lives, this teaching calls us to prioritize love in every interaction. It invites us to reflect on how we can demonstrate love for God and our neighbors through our choices and actions. Jesus' commendation of the scribe reminds us that living out these commandments brings us closer to God's kingdom. Let us examine our hearts and actions, ensuring they align with the love that Jesus taught, recognizing that this love is the cornerstone of our faith and our path to a deeper relationship with God.