Liturgical Readings for : Sunday, 5th November, 2023
Thirty- First Sunday of Ordinary Time
Prisoner’s Sunday
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Malachi 1:14-2:2. 8-10
You have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching.
The price of our straying.
I am a great king, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is feared throughout the nations. And now, priests, this warning is for you. If you do not listen, if you do not find it in your heart to glorify my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send the curse on you and curse your very blessing. Indeed I have already cursed it, since there is not a single one of you who takes this to heart. But you, you have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching. You have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts. And so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.
Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why, then, do we break faith with one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 130
Response Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord
1. O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me. Response
2. Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast, even so is my soul. Response
3. O Israel, hope in the Lord both now and for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 2:7-9. 13
We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well.
Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well. Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you.
Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3: 9
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
or Mt 23: 9-10
Alleluia, Alleluia!
You have only one Father, and he is in heaven for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 23:1-12 Glory to you, O Lord
They do not practise what they preach.
Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said,
‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant.
Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflections For Sundays Year A
Love Thy Neighbour
‘Practise what you preach’. ‘Walk it as you talk it’. These are sayings we use to highlight that words and actions in our Christian life should harmonise. ‘Love is shown in deeds, not words’ is the ending of the Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises.
This is the criticism of Jesus about some of the Pharisees: they preached intolerable burdens of the law, and did not observe it themselves, nor help anyone to do so.
We find out how to be a follower of Jesus by watching him in the gospel, by hearing his word, and by living a life of love and compassion as best we can. We learn from how to relate to others by how he does this himself.
Every religion can get lost in the visible signs of it. Titles in parish or a diocese can take over from the service requested from us. Shows of piety can lead to the self rather than to God. All in our religion should come from the life of Jesus and return to him. ‘You have one teacher, the Christ’.
Maybe today we pay tribute to the teachers among us, especially those who have taught us about our faith and guided us in the ways of faith.
Lord, teach me your ways, your truth
and guide me into your life.
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd
