Daily Readings - Wed Nov 05 2025
Romans
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.
Luke
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 nature of love and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He lists several commandments—against adultery, murder, theft, false testimony, and coveting—but then sums them up in one simple principle: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This love, he says, does no harm to others and is the very essence of living a life pleasing to God.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further, challenging us to consider the cost of following Him. He says that to be His disciple, we must be willing to "hate" even our closest family members and our own lives. This doesn’t mean literal hatred, but rather a willingness to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. Jesus uses two parables to drive this point home: the builder who must calculate the cost of constructing a tower and the king who must assess his chances of winning a war. Both examples emphasize the need for discernment and commitment before embarking on the journey of discipleship.
These readings are connected by the theme of love and sacrifice. Paul shows us that love is not just a feeling but a way of life that fulfills God’s law. Jesus, however, reminds us that this love requires radical commitment and sacrifice. To love God and neighbor as ourselves means being willing to let go of everything else for the sake of the Kingdom. In our daily lives, this might mean making difficult choices, putting others’ needs before our own, or being willing to endure challenges for the sake of our faith. The moral lesson is clear: true love is not cheap or superficial; it demands our whole heart, mind, and soul. Let us ask ourselves today: am I willing to pay the price of discipleship, trusting that God’s love will guide and sustain me?