Daily Mass Reflection & Daily Mass Readings
Daily Mass Reflection & Daily Mass Readings are vital for nurturing spiritual growth and maintaining a strong connection to one’s faith. These practices offer a dedicated time to meditate on the scriptures and the teachings of the homily, helping individuals internalize the lessons and apply them to their daily lives. Regular engagement with the readings fosters a deeper understanding of religious texts, while the reflection period allows for personal introspection and spiritual renewal. Together, they provide a foundation for a more meaningful and conscious practice of faith, promoting a sense of peace, guidance, and communal belonging.
15th October – Wednesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Most of us find ourselves burdened from time to time. There is an inevitable burden that comes with living. Sometimes that burden can seem to weigh very heavily on us; at other times it is much lighter. However, we know that people can also burden us unnecessarily. The Lord calls on us to help carry each other’s burdens, but the opposite can happen. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus accuses the lawyers, the experts in the Jewish Law, of loading burdens on people that are unendurable, without moving a finger to life them. They interpreted the Jewish Law in such a way that it had become a burden for people. Rather than a path to life, the Law had become another burden on an already burdened people. Jesus did not come to further burden those who were already burdened. Rather he called out to them, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’. He came to draw us into a loving relationship with God and thereby to empower us to live as God is calling us to live. The call of the gospel does make demands of us, but they are the demands of love. They are the demands of a loving Lord who wants us to have life and have it to the full and who gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to respond to the challenging but life-giving call of the gospel.
14th October – Tuesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Cycle 1)
Both of today’s readings draw attention to the importance of looking beneath the surface of things. Paul accuses pagans of failing to look beneath the surface of the created world to the God who created it. As a result, according to Paul, they ended up worshipping creatures instead of the Creator. In the gospel reading, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of failing to look beneath the surface of the various ritual washings that the Law prescribes to what is in the heart. They are overly focused on the outside and fail to take seriously the inside, what resides in the human heart. Jesus suggests that if the heart is in the right place, then good actions will flow from it, such as almsgiving. We can all fail to look beneath the surface of life, whether it is the life of creation or the life of ourselves and others. Jesus promoted a morality that is deeply rooted in the human heart rather than one that revolves around conforming to various written or unwritten norms. He came to change human hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. He invites us to open our hearts to the gift of his Spirit, so that they are renewed, recreated, in the image of the Lord’s own heart. When our heart, our inner core, reflects something of the Lord’s inner core, then our lives will begin to reflect something of the Lord’s life. We will begin to see as deeply as he sees, beyond the surface to the divine presence hidden beneath and beyond.
15th October >> Mass Readings
Saint Teresa of Ávila, Virgin, Doctor on Wednesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time.
Wednesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))
(Readings for the feria (Wednesday))
(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Wednesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)
First Reading Romans 2:1-11 Do you think you will escape God’s judgement?
No matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. In judging others you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge. We know that God condemns that sort of behaviour impartially: and when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing exactly the same, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or are you abusing his abundant goodness, patience and toleration, not realising that this goodness of God is meant to lead you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only adding to the anger God will have towards you on that day of anger when his just judgements will be made known. He will repay each one as his works deserve. For those who sought renown and honour and immortality by always doing good there will be eternal life; for the unsubmissive who refused to take truth for their guide and took depravity instead, there will be anger and fury. Pain and suffering will come to every human being who employs himself in evil – Jews first, but Greeks as well; renown, honour and peace will come to everyone who does good – Jews first, but Greeks as well. God has no favourites.
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 61(62):2-3,6-7,9
R/ Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.
In God alone is my soul at rest; my help comes from him. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.
R/ Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.
In God alone be at rest, my soul; for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.
R/ Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.
Take refuge in God, all you people. Trust him at all times. Pour out your hearts before him for God is our refuge.
R/ Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.
Gospel Acclamation cf. Psalm 26:11
Alleluia, alleluia! Instruct me, Lord, in your way; on an even path lead me. Alleluia!
Or: John 10:27
Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 11:42-46 You overlook justice and the love of God.
The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it! A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’ ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’
The Gospel of the Lord
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
14th October >> Mass Readings
Tuesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time or Pope Saint Callistus, Martyr.
Tuesday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I))
First Reading Romans 1:16-25 These people knew God and failed to honour him.
I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith – Jews first, but Greeks as well – since this is what reveals the justice of God to us: it shows how faith leads to faith, or as scripture says: The upright man finds life through faith. The anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the impiety and depravity of men who keep truth imprisoned in their wickedness. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them since God himself has made it plain. Ever since God created the world his everlasting power and deity – however invisible – have been there for the mind to see in the things he has made. That is why such people are without excuse: they knew God and yet refused to honour him as God or to thank him; instead, they made nonsense out of logic and their empty minds were darkened. The more they called themselves philosophers, the more stupid they grew, until they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds and reptiles. That is why God left them to their filthy enjoyments and the practices with which they dishonour their own bodies, since they have given up divine truth for a lie and have worshipped and served creatures instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen!
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 18(19):2-5
R/ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night makes known the message.
R/ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
R/ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Gospel Acclamation Psalm 118:135
Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!
Or: Hebrews 4:12
Alleluia, alleluia! The word of God is something alive and active: it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 11:37-41 Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean.
Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’
The Gospel of the Lord
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.