Daily Readings for October 1, 2017

Memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux, virgin and Doctor of the Church

1ST READING

Ezekiel affirms that we have a merciful God and He will always forgive the repentant sinner. We have no cause to doubt the merciful spirit of God. If God forgives someone who sins against us, do we have a right to complain about how He dispenses His mercy? Definitely not, because we are always on the receiving end of His forgiveness as well. Let us not blame God for being merciful but seek to imitate His mercy when we deal with others, especially when they sin against us.

Ezekiel 18:25-28

25 Thus says the Lord: You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

P S A L M

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: Remember your mercies, O Lord.

4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old. 7 The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice and teaches the humble his way. (R)

2ND READING

St. Paul wants us to seek unity in the Body of Christ. We need to focus on what we have in common and not concentrate on our differences. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will find a common ground in our faith experiences, rather than always looking for ways to pull others down and promote ourselves or our own brand of Christian faith.

Philippians 2:1-11

1 Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. 5 Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL

Obedience to God’s will is the key to growing in holiness. If we always insist on following our own will instead of God’s, we will soon realize that things do not seem to be right. This should encourage us to refocus our minds on what God wants us to do, rather than assume that we know better than God. He desires the best for us, so why don’t we trust and follow His plan for us?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Matthew 21:28-32

28 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”