Daily Mass Readings – Wednesday, 3 November 2027

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law.

9 For Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness: Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.

R. (5a) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

or

R. Alleluia.

1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

or

R. Alleluia.

4 To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

5 Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment:

R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

or

R. Alleluia.

9 He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.

R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

or

R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

25 And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:

29 Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,

30 Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?

32 Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

33 So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.

Jesus speaks with startling clarity about the seriousness of discipleship. To follow him, we must place him above every human attachment and carry the cross rather than treating faith as an occasional addition to life. He asks us to “sit down” and reckon the cost, because discipleship involves a real surrender of possessions, preferences, and claims upon ourselves.

Yet this surrender does not make us distant from others. The first reading shows what a life ordered toward Christ looks like: love of neighbor, which does no evil and fulfills the law. The psalm describes that love concretely in the person who is merciful, compassionate, just, and generous toward those in need. Even the willingness to bear insult for Christ belongs to this faithful way of living. We count the cost so that our following may be genuine and persevering. Each day may bring a simple decision to place Christ first, then to express that choice through patience, honesty, mercy, and practical generosity. Love becomes the visible foundation of a life truly built on him.

Lord Jesus, teach me to follow you with an undivided heart. Give me wisdom to recognize what I must surrender and courage to carry the cross faithfully. Keep my love for family and neighbor rightly ordered beneath my love for you. Make me merciful, compassionate, just, and generous, especially toward those in need. When I am misunderstood or insulted because of your name, let your Spirit strengthen me rather than bitterness. Help me finish the work of discipleship you have begun in me, so that my life may do no harm and may fulfill your law of love. Amen.