Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 23, 2025
First Reading: Romans 6.19-23
19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.4Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Gospel: Luke 12.49-53
49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound transformation that comes with following Christ and the challenges that accompany it. The first reading from Romans speaks of the shift from a life of sin to one of justice and sanctification. Paul emphasizes that just as we once surrendered our bodies to serve impurity, we are now called to yield ourselves to God’s justice. This transformation is not merely about behavior but about a radical change in our very being, leading to eternal life. The second reading from Luke presents a more intense and provocative message. Jesus speaks of casting fire upon the earth, a fire that will bring division even among family members. He makes it clear that His mission is not to bring peace but to disrupt the status quo, calling us to stand firm in our commitment to Him, even when it leads to conflict.
These readings, though seemingly contrasting, are deeply connected. Both invite us to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God and the world. Paul’s letter highlights the internal transformation required to live as children of God, while Luke’s Gospel underscores the external consequences of that transformation. Jesus’ words about division remind us that living a life of justice and sanctification will not always be easy or popular. It may require us to stand apart from those around us, even those closest to us, as we align ourselves with God’s will.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to examine our own commitment to living as servants of God. Are we willing to embrace the challenges that come with following Christ? Are we prepared to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to division or discomfort? The moral lesson here is clear: our ultimate goal is eternal life, and this requires us to surrender ourselves fully to God’s justice and sanctification. Let us pray for the strength to embrace this transformative journey, trusting that the fire of God’s love will purify and guide us, even in the face of adversity.