Daily Readings for November 8, 2017

1ST READING

Paul says that love does no evil to our neighbor. This is so true and if people would test their actions against this principle more thoroughly, we could avoid a lot of hurt. Too often, we are focused only on our own pleasure and we forget about the effects of our actions to others. This is a recipe for disaster. We need to remember that what we do affects other people, so before taking  any action, we should consider others as well.

Romans 13:8-10

8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

P S A L M

Psalm 112:1-2, 4-5, 9

R: Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 4 He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

GOSPEL

Following Jesus means renouncing everything else and focusing on what God wants us to do. I remember going through this thought process at the time of my conversion: If I really believe that God has done all this for me, then I need to ask Him what He wants me to do with my life, and then do it. As clear as a bell, I got back the message that He wanted me to become a priest and that is what I did.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”