Daily Readings for October 31, 2018

1st READING

Obedience and authority are needed to put order in our lives and our communities. Anarchy is never an option. Let us be mindful of the structures provided by the Church to lead and guide us in the ways of God. Let us pray for the grace to cooperate with them so that we can contribute to the success of the work of the Gospel.

Ephesians 6: 1-9

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, 3 that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, 6 not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 willingly serving the Lord and not men beings, 8 knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.

P SA L M 

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 13-14

R: The Lord is faithful in all his words.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. 13 Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifts up all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

GOSPEL 

Jesus reminds us that the life of a disciple is difficult. Let this console us in the midst of our struggle to grow in holiness and rid our lives of sin. We draw strength from God’s promise to give us the grace to follow Him. Let us pray to remain faithful, no matter how challenging our spiritual journey becomes.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Luke 13:22-30

22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”