Newsletter November 5th 2023 (31st Sunday in Ordinary Time / a)

Mass Readings

• First Reading – Malachi 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10: I am a great King and demand respect. Priests, if you don’t honor my name, I’ll curse you. You’ve strayed and made others falter, breaking the covenant. Remember, we all have one God.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 131: My heart isn’t proud, Lord. I don’t aim for things beyond me. Instead, I’m at peace, quiet like a child with its mother. Israel, put your hope in the Lord.
• Second Reading – 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13: We were kind to you, like a mother to her children. We shared not just the gospel, but ourselves. You know we worked hard to not be a burden. We’re thankful you received God’s word, not just human words.
• Gospel – Matthew 23:1-12: Jesus tells the crowd and his disciples to follow the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees but not their actions. He criticizes them for being showy and not genuinely helping others. He advises against using titles like “Rabbi” and “Master,” emphasizing humility and service instead.