Daily Readings for October 23, 2017

1ST READING

Paul repeats his argument that Abraham is justified by faith, not works. If he cannot convince us that this is true, then his whole understanding of the dynamic of faith and salvation falls apart. Chapter 4 of his letter to the Romans is the chapter upon which his life’s work lives or dies. It has lived for nearly 2,000 years, so we can take it that Paul’s understanding of the nature of faith is correct.

Romans 4:20-25

20 Brothers and sisters: Abraham did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God 21 and was fully convinced that what God had promised he was also able to do. 22 That is why it was credited to him as righteousness. 23 But it was not for him alone that it was written that it was credited to him; 24 it was also for us, to whom it will be credited, who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification.

P S A L M

Luke 1:68-69, 70-72, 73-75

R: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

68 He has come to his people and set them free. 69 He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. (R) 70 Through his holy prophets he promised of old 71 that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. 72 He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. (R) 73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, 75 holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. (R)

GOSPEL

The accumulation of wealth for the sake of having more is sickening. It is good if you are going to use your wealth for the good of others. Otherwise, wealth is a noose around your neck. It cannot make you truly happy. Only relationships can plumb the depths of our hearts and induce lasting happiness and fulfillment. Live a comfortable and enjoyable life but remember that a profligate and sumptuous life is going to be a source of temptations.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”