Daily Readings for November 30, 2017

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

1ST READING

As we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle today, let us remember those who have given their lives in the service of the Gospel — first as martyrs and then as pastors in the Church. The Church would not be what She is today without the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the Gospel. Let us pray that more men and women will heed the call of the Lord and respond to it as generously as Andrew and so many others did.

Romans 10:9-18

9 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. 12 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15 And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! 16 But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? 17 Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

P S A L M 

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R: The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 10 [11] They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R) The call of God is often as simple as “Come, follow Me!” Andrew heard the call of Jesus and left everything to follow Him. Let us reflect on the simplicity of Andrew’s response and examine our own struggles to follow the Lord’s call. Let us try to keep things simple. It is the only way to make following Jesus possible.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:18-22

18 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.