14 October 2025 (Tuesday) / Tuesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time or Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr / Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time / Saint Callistus I, Pope, Martyr

14 October 2025 (Tuesday)

Tuesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time or Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr.

Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time / Saint Callistus I, Pope, Martyr.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Romans 1: 16-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 2-3, 4-5
Alleluia: Hebrews 4: 12
Gospel: Luke 11: 37-41

First Reading : Romans 1:16‐25

I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith – Jews first, but Greeks as well – since this is what reveals the justice of God to us: it shows how faith leads to faith, or as scripture says: The upright man finds life through faith. The anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the impiety and depravity of men who keep truth imprisoned in their wickedness. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them since God himself has made it plain. Ever since God created the world his everlasting power and deity – however invisible – have been there for the mind to see in the things he has made. That is why such people are without excuse: they knew God and yet refused to honour him as God or to thank him; instead, they made nonsense out of logic and their empty minds were darkened. The more they called themselves philosophers, the more stupid they grew, until they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds and reptiles. That is why God left them to their filthy enjoyments and the practices with which they dishonour their own bodies, since they have given up divine truth for a lie and have worshipped and served creatures instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen!

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 18(19):2‐5

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night makes known the message.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

Alleluia: Hebrews 4: 12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
12 The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
(12. The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts more incisively than any two-edged sword: it can seek out the place where soul is divided from spirit, or joints from marrow; it can pass judgement on secret emotions and thoughts).
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 11:37‐41

Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’

For our reflection today:

They are not beautiful words, eh? Jesus spoke clearly, He was not a hypocrite. He spoke clearly. And he said to them, “But why do you look at what is external? Look at what is within.” Another time He said to them, “You are whitened sepulchres.” Nice compliment, eh? Beautiful on the outside, all perfect, all perfect, but within?  Be careful around those who are rigid. Be careful around Christians – be they laity, priests, bishops – who present themselves as so “perfect,” rigid. Be careful. There’s no Spirit of God there. They lack the spirit of liberty. And let us be careful with ourselves, because this should lead us to consider our own life. Do I seek to look only at appearance, and not change my heart? Do I not open my heart to prayer, to the liberty of prayer, the liberty of almsgiving, the liberty of works of mercy? (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 16 October 2018)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)