4 November 2025 (Tuesday) / Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

4 November 2025 (Tuesday)

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Romans 12: 5-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 131: 1-3
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
Gospel: Luke 14: 15-24

First Reading: Romans 12: 5-16

So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. And having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine; He that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good. Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood, with honour preventing one another. In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer. Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 131: 1-3

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
28 Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
(25. At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children.
26. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do.
27. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28. 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
29. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.')
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 14: 15-24

When one of them that sat at table with him, had heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready. And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused. And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame. And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper.

For our reflection today:

A Christian is one who is invited to join in the feast, to the joy of being saved, to the joy of being redeemed, to the joy of sharing life with Christ. This is a joy! You are called to a party! A feast is a gathering of people who talk, laugh, celebrate, are happy together. I have never seen anyone party on their own. That would be boring, no? Opening the bottle of wine. That’s not a feast, it’s something else. You have to party with others, with the family, with friends, with those who’ve been invited, as I was invited. The Church is for everyone, beginning with those most marginalized. It is everyone’s Church! The Lord is very generous. The Lord opens all doors. The Lord also understands those who say to Him, ‘No, Lord, I don’t want to go to you.’ He understands and is waiting for them, because He is merciful. But the Lord does not like those who say ‘yes’ and do the opposite; who pretend to thank Him for all the good things; who have good manners, but go their own way and do not follow the way of the Lord. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 5 November 2013)

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