Thursday November 7, 2024
Weekday (31) Ordinary Time
Office: Psalter Week 3
Mass and Preface of day
Vestment:  Green
Today’s Rosary:  The Luminous Mystery

Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading

FIRST READING
“Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 3:3-8a)

Brethren: We are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, as to zeal a persecutor of the Church, as to righteousness under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 105.2-3.4-5.6-7 (R. 3b)
R/. Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Or: Alleluia.

O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts that seek the LORD rejoice. R/.

Turn to the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his marvels and his words of judgement. R/.

R/. Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Or: Alleluia.

O children of Abraham, his servant,
O descendants of the Jacob he chose,
he, the Lord, is our God;
his judgements are in all the earth. R/.

ALLELUIA Matthew 11:28
Alleluia. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL              
“There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 15: 1-10)

At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost. ’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Through the two short parables Jesus presents the essential nature of our God: benevolent in His love, generous in His mercy, kind towards the wayward, extravagant in His celebration when the lost one is found. For God, when it comes to His children, one is equal to 99. He does not wish that even one of His children gets lost! St Paul is one of those who experienced the joy of being ‘lost’ and ‘found’ and so is able to say: “indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.” Today the Lord beckons me to be found by Him through the sacrament of reconciliation.

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

-Thank God for the gift of this day

-Pray for mercy for the times you have sought self-glorification in charitable deeds.

-Ask for the grace of the Lord to give freely so that you can receive freely

Let Us Pray,
Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly