Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 04, 2025
Tuesday – 31st Week in Ordinary Time
04th November 2025 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Romans 12:5-16a
Brethren: We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.
Psalm 131:1, 2, 3
R/. Keep my soul in peace at your side, O Lord
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 14:15-24
At that time: One of those who reclined at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please excuse me.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: The grace of God is ever available. But we shall be deprived of it if we take it for granted and do not respond
1. Belongingness is our essential nature. It is twofold, to God and one another. This idea of inseparable belongingness and communion is forcefully brought out through the metaphor of the body and its parts in the first reading.
2. We are many but are all one Body in Christ. So essentially we are connected to the one and the same Body and at the same time also connected to one another. As one Body, it is one grace given gratuitously to each one of us. God is always merciful and generous. He never ceases to offer His grace in abundance. He gives different gifts.
3. As recipients of His abundant grace, we need to be fully responsible, receptive, cooperative, intensely fervent and committed concerning these differing gifts. Whether it is prophecy, ministry or teaching, everyone must act to the full extent in proportion to the grace given.
4. Lack of receptivity and active implementation will result in a just judgment by God. This dialectic of the divine offer and human response is vividly presented in the parable of a wedding banquet in the gospel.
5. God wants to nurture us and treat us royally with a banquet. He goes on inviting us to be in His presence and relish its richness in various ways through frequent opportunities. But as it is the typical tendency, often selfless benevolence and generosity are not duly valued and appreciated for their worth.
6. We are so engrossed in our worldly affairs and preoccupations that we fail to respond positively and cooperate actively to God’s grace. We have plenty of excuses for why we cannot go to His presence and sit with Him.
7. So foolishly we misjudge our priorities and neglect God’s voice and closeness. We do not realize how precious is the treasure we are forfeiting. The time will come when we will be rejected and stand dejected.
My Practice: In fact, it is not God who excludes us from the reign of His presence and blessings but we ourselves deliberately keep ourselves out
