Daily Readings for November 3, 2017

1ST READING

St. Martin de Porres, whose feast day we celebrate today, was a simple man who gave his life in the service of the poor in Lima, Peru. He loved people in very practical ways. The many miracles that he worked seem to be God’s affirmation of the way in which he chose to love. We can see from his life the need to give primacy to loving our neighbor in the simplest of things.

Romans 9:1-5

1 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are the children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.

P S A L M

Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! (R) 19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. (R)

GOSPEL

Is it right to break a law when it is seen as less important than the actions being considered? For example, the busiest day in a priest’s life is Sunday and it is impossible for him to “keep the Sabbath.” Is he “breaking the law?” Definitely not. The law is not applicable in this particular situation. This is the same kind of situation we find in today’s Gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Luke 14:1-6

1 On a sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 2 In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” 4 But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. 5 Then he said to them, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” 6 But they were unable to answer his question.