Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 07, 2024
Thirty-First Week of Ordinary Time
07th November 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Philippians 3:3-8a
Brethren: We are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R. 3b)
R/. Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Thirty-First Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: God’s mercy is the greatest treasure and repentance is the fitting way and condition to experience it
1. The experience of loss is a natural human experience. It is common for everybody. It can refer to any aspect – material, physical, intellectual, psychological, social, moral, or spiritual. It is in terms of money, things, health, relationship, knowledge, success, profit, values, faith, opportunities, et cetera. Whenever something is lost, there is certainly anxiety, tension, and sadness. And also one begins to reflect on the causes and consequences of the loss.
2. There will be also efforts to search for what is lost and to regain it. Jesus brings our awareness to this fact of loss, through two metaphors of a lost sheep and a lost coin. We are the lost sheep and lost coin. We are lost many times due to sin. We are lost to God in faith and fidelity and lost to others in goodness and kindness.
3. What is consoling is that God is deeply concerned about us being lost. He is in a ceaseless search for us to regain us. He wants to restore us to our lost dignity and sanctity. He rejoices over us when we are found.
4. Often we easily get lost. We deliberately lose God – His love, intimacy, instruction, and values. We lose him in preference to lesser things of the world. We wrongly think that the rest are greater gains.
5. In fact, we lack wisdom. So we fail to distinguish and discern between what is more important and precious and what is less important and valuable. But Paul had this wisdom. That is why he was able to choose Christ and his way in preference to all the rest of the things. He would confess with conviction: “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Practice: In life, we need to sincerely check and see what are our priorities. What do I lose and what do I gain? Do I lose the essential for the sake of the trivial? Do I repent over losing my love for the Lord and goodness to others?
