Reading 1
Rom 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God?
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Gospel
Lk 11:47-54
The Lord said:
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
'I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute'
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Meditation: Psalm 130:1-6
I wait with longing for the Lord, my soul waits for his word.” (Psalm 130:5)
In today’s first reading, St. Paul gives us a lot of words filled with theological depth and truth. He tells us that we have all sinned “and are deprived of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But he also tells us that we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus” (3:24). God has extended his mercy to each of us, freely forgiving our sins and reconciling us to his heart.
With good news like this, we should all rejoice in the Lord and honor him for the grace he has poured upon us. We should also join the psalmist, waiting with eager longing for God’s word to be spoken to us personally. It’s one thing to hear a word from Scripture or at Mass that expresses universal truths about God and his commands. But it’s another thing entirely to hear God speak that word to us, applying these truths to our lives and our very specific situations. For instance, if his word tells us that all are sinners, we should listen carefully to hear where God is inviting us to change. And if his word tells us about our redemption, we should keep our eyes open for new ways to enjoy and celebrate our freedom in Christ.
Whatever God wants to tell us, we can trust that his word will come from the depths of the Father’s love. It will be an expression of his kindness, and it will show us a way toward the “full redemption” he wants all of us to receive (Psalm 130:7). Even if it seems like a challenging word at the time, we can rest assured that this word is filled with compassion and promise.
How will you hear God’s word today? Will it be in the quiet of your heart as you ponder his Scriptures or sit quietly in eucharistic adoration? Or will he speak through another person, such as a priest preaching a homily or a friend’s casual remark? Listen attentively and humbly today. God wants to speak to you!
“Thank you, Lord, that you are kindness and compassion. Let your light shine on me, and let your word set me free.”
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