Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 5 November 2028

22 For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon the earth:

23 But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

24 For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it.

25 And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee.

26 But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.

12:1 O how good and sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, in all things!

2 And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in thee, O Lord.

R. (1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

1 I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.

9 The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

10 Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

13 Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.

14 The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

11 Wherefore also we pray always for you; that our God would make you worthy of his vocation, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith in power;

12 That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2:1 And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:

2 That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 And entering in, he walked through Jericho.

2 And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature.

4 And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him; for he was to pass that way.

5 And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him, and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide in thy house.

6 And he made haste and came down; and received him with joy.

7 And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner.

8 But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold.

9 Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

God’s mercy is not passive forgiveness; it seeks us out in order to restore us. The Lord loves all that he has made and patiently corrects those who have gone astray, giving them time to turn back. Jesus shows this mercy when he looks up at Zacchaeus, calls him by name, and chooses to enter his house. Before the crowd can define him by his sin, Christ sees him as a son of Abraham, still capable of salvation.

Zacchaeus receives Jesus with joy, and that encounter becomes concrete conversion. His promise to give to the poor and repay those he has wronged shows that repentance reaches into the way we use what we possess and treat other people. The grace of Christ does not leave life unchanged; it makes faith fruitful and gives glory to his name. When we are unsettled by fear, confusion, or awareness of our failures, we need not be shaken. The patient Lord lifts up those who fall and patiently leads them toward freedom. His mercy calls for a response: welcoming him honestly, repairing what we can, and trusting that salvation can enter the place where we once seemed lost.

Merciful God, you love every soul and never abandon the work of your hands. Give me the humility to come down from whatever keeps me hidden and to welcome Jesus into my life with joy. When your word reveals my sins, keep me from fear or discouragement; give me courage to repent and grace to make amends where I have caused harm. Strengthen my faith so that it may become visible in generosity, honesty, and care for the poor. May the name of Jesus be glorified in me, and may your patient mercy lead me into lasting conversion. Amen.