DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

OCTOBER 27, 2023

FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

FIRST READING

ROMANS 7:18-25

18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, 23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 118(119):66, 68, 76-77, 93-94

Response: Lord, teach me thy statutes.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in thy commandments.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.

Thou art good and doest good;
teach me thy statutes.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.

Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me
according to thy promise to thy servant.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.

Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live;
for thy law is my delight.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.

I will never forget thy precepts;
for by them thou hast given me life.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.

I am thine, save me;
for I have sought thy precepts.

R. Lord, teach me thy statutes.
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GOSPEL

Heed the warning signs before it is too late

LUKE 12:54-59

54 He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper."

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Signs from the Law point to the dawn of the Mystery of Christ, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"People focus their attention on things of this kind. From long observation and practice they tell beforehand when rain will fall or violent winds will blow. One especially sees that sailors are very skillful in this matter. He says that it would be suitable for those who can calculate things of this sort and may foretell storms that are about to happen to focus the penetrating eyes of the mind also on important matters. What are these? The law showed beforehand the mystery of Christ, that he would shine out in the last ages of the world on the inhabitants of the earth and submit to be a sacrifice for the salvation of all. It even commanded a lamb to be sacrificed as a type of him who died towards evening and at lighting of lamps (Exodus 12:6).
"We might now understand that when, like the day, this world was declining to its close, the great, precious and truly saving passion would be fulfilled. The door of salvation would be thrown wide open to those who believe in him, and abundant happiness be their share. In the Song of Songs, we also find Christ calling to the bride described there. The bride personally represents the church, in these words, 'Arise, come, my neighbor, my beautiful dove. Look, the winter is past, and the rain is gone. It has passed away. The flowers appear on the ground. The time of the pruning has come' (Song 2:10-12). As I said, a certain springlike calm was about to arise for those who believe in him."

(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 95)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.