Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, 31 October 2020 – He Who Exalts Himself Will Be Humbled 

Catholic Daily Reading, Reading at Mass for Saturday 31st October 2020

Weekday (30) 
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery
B. V. M. on Saturday
Death Anniversary: OWERRI – Bishop Mark Unegbu- 31/10/2002.
End of October Devotion.

FIRST READING

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 1:18b-26)

Brethren: Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 42:2.3.5 (R. 3ab)

R/. My soul is thirsting for you, the living God.

Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God. R.

For I would go to the place
of your wondrous tent,
all the way to the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng keeping joyful festival. R.

ALLELUIA Matthew 11:29ab

Alleluia. Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“Every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 14:1.7-11)

One Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honour, saying to them, “When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honour, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher’; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Today’s gospel text teaches us about simple etiquette. Jesus tells us that no one takes honour upon himself, but other people, seeing how worthy and humble you are, give you the honour you deserve. It also speaks to us about how we understand positions of authority. You do not assume positions of authority because you feel your status should earn you such positions, we should wait a little and reflect “anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted”.