Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 07, 2025
Tuesday – 27th Week in Ordinary Time
07th October 2025 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 7bc-8 (R. 3)
R/. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
At that time: Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – 27th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: The beauty and joy of life consist not in dichotomy and conflict between prayer and work, but harmony
1. The story of Mary and Martha in the gospel is a familiar one. Apparently, it is a story of two individuals who were very close to Jesus. But it is in fact the story of constant tension and struggle between prayer and work, symbolized by Mary and Martha respectively. This is a very real experience for everyone. It is not just a practical problem but an existential problem. It is a constant pull between spiritual concerns and secular tasks.
2. What is needed is that both prayer and action should go together. We should not neglect work and duties in the name of prayer and spiritual duties. Similarly, we should not neglect or reduce our spiritual concerns under the pretext of heavy loads of work. One should not throw away or substitute the other. Because both complement and support each other. Prayer breathes “spirit” into the “flesh” of works. And work supplies “flesh” to the spirit of prayer.
3. However, we should bear in mind that as followers of Christ, prayer is our highest priority. By prayer we mean not just a number of prayers or spiritual activities. It means essentially an intimate communion, loyalty, and commitment to Christ. Nothing can be equal or substitute or alternative to this primacy.
4. Especially in our own times, where there is the viral trend of activism, where people are so negligent toward God and the spiritual because of their worldly pursuits, preoccupations, and self-interests, we need to reiterate this priority of prayer and devotion. In fact, true prayer and spirituality certainly helps one to be more responsible and hardworking.
5. It is in this context the commemoration of Our Lady of Rosary serves as a great assurance. Mary confirms that God is always benevolent and attentive to us. When people in the fear of their enemies and the impending defeat interceded to the Mother, she promptly intervened, mediated God’s power, and thus granted victory to the believers. Holy Rosary is offered to us as a powerful weapon against the enemy.
6. We must rediscover the proper value of the holy rosary and the power and effect of reciting it. It is not mere praise and exaltation of Mary, as many wrongly think. It is in fact giving glory to God Himself who works His grace in and through Mary who cooperates with His grace in humility and surrender. She is great and glorified because she glorified God. She is powerful in her intercession and mediation because of the power of God to which she totally surrenders herself.
My Practice: Work built on and guided by prayer, becomes deep and productive. Work devoid of prayer runs the risk of becoming shallow and superficial.
