Catholic Doctrine and the Sunday Readings for October 2023

The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for October 2023 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. Let’s join the Psalmist in proclaiming, “O Lord, in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate” (Psalm 119:128). God’s precepts are most clearly found in Catholic Doctrine. Let’s learn doctrines in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that are supported by key verses from October’s Readings[1] so that we can go forward and hate false ways as the Lord wants us. Doctrines are the Magisterium’s authoritative clarification of Revelation and Faith that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic.

October 1, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Catechism uses a quote from both the longer and shorter versions of the Second Reading about having a “mind . . . that is also yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5) to assert that Baptism is meant to incorporate the baptized into “the life of the Risen Lord” by “conforming their thoughts, words and actions” to Him (CCC 1694[2]). The best way to be in conformity with Christ, and the reason to be baptized, is to act in harmony with all Catholic doctrine. Baptism is not simply a custom with whatever meaning one wants to give it.

In this age of epicureanism and narcissism, it might be important to note that the Catechism relates the verse that Jesus “humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8) to our participation in Christ’s kingly office. We receive Jesus’ “gift of royal freedom” by having kingship over our bodies and passions and thus have “royal power” over ourselves so that we “will not let [ourselves] be imprisoned by sin, or thrown headlong into wickedness” (CCC 908). Our passions (emotions and desires) are not in themselves good or evil, but they must be governed by our free will, which in turn must be governed by our mind, in order to avoid sin (CCC 1763-1770).

• From the Second Reading[3] (Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5): Phil 2:1 is cited in CCC 2842; Phil 2:4 in CCC 2635; Phil 2:5-8 in CCC 461; Phil 2:5 in CCC 520, 1694, and 2842; Phil 2:6-11 in CCC 2641 and 2667; Phil 2:6 in CCC 449; Phil 2:7 in CCC 472, 602, 705, 713, 876, and 1224; Phil 2:8-9 in CCC 908; Phil 2:8 in CCC 411, 612, and 623; Phil 2:9-11 in CCC 449 and 2812; Phil 2:9-10 in CCC 434; Phil 2:10-11 in CCC 201; and Phil 2:10 in CCC 633 and 635.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 21:28-32): Matt 21:28-32 is cited in CCC 546; and Matt 21:32 in CCC

October 8, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Make your requests known to God,” St. Paul encourages us in the Second Reading (Philippians 4:6). The Catechism cites this verse to teach that “every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name” (CCC 2633). It might be good to add that all of our needs will not be met until Christ comes again in glory to completely establish the Kingdom of God (see CCC 671-672).

How do we know if we are thinking about the right things – whatever is honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians (4:8)? Our thoughts are right if they lead to virtuous actions (CCC 1803). Every Catholic should know the Catholic definitions of prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and love and strive to grow in them (CCC 1804-1829).

The Catechism gives us an answer to Why be Catholic? when it cites a verse about “bearing fruit” from the Alleluia (John 15:16): “the Church is sent to announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity” (CCC 738) because the “mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church” (CCC 737).

The vineyard in the First Reading and the Gospel is ultimately the Church, “planted by the heavenly cultivator” (CCC 755). Why be Catholic? It is “[o]n this foundation [of Christ] the Church is built by the apostles” (CCC 756). Christ is the cornerstone of Catholic doctrine, Catholic liturgy, Catholic morality, and Catholic prayer (CCC 13-17).

• From the First Reading (Isaiah 5:1-7): Is 5:1-7 is cited in CCC
• From the Second Reading (Philippians 4:6-9): Phil 4:6-7 is cited in CCC 2633; and Phil 4:8 in CCC
• From the Alleluia (John 15:16): Jn 15:16 is cited in CCC 434, 737, 2615, and 2815.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 21:33-43): Matt 21:33-43 is cited in CCC 755; 21:34-36 in CCC 443; 21:37-38 in CCC 443; 21:42 in CCC

October 15, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

How do we, like St. Paul in the Second Reading, ‘have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Philippians 4:13)? “Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of God’s almighty power. This faith glories in its weaknesses in order to draw to itself Christ’s power” (CCC 273), which is crystallized in His Resurrection (CCC 272). It might help to remember that Catholic faith is not blind trust (CCC 156), but acceptance of God’s actual Revelation in word and deed (CCC 53).

This Sunday’s entire Gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) is cited in CCC 546 to teach that “to gain the kingdom [of God], one must give everything” by properly using the talents he or she has received. As was pointed out in my commentary for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we should “use everything that is not God only insofar as it brings us closer to him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as it turns us away from him” (CCC 222, 226). We properly use our talents when we are better able to believe, worship, act, and pray in harmony with Catholic Doctrine.

• From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6): Ps 23:5 is cited in CCC
• From the Second Reading (Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20): Phil 4:13 is cited in CCC 273 and 1460.
• From the Alleluia (Ephesians 1:17-18): Eph 1:18 is cited in CCC
• From the Gospel (Matthew 22:1-14): Matt 22:1-14 is cited in CCC 546 and 796.

October 22, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the First Reading for this Sunday, God reveals through the prophet Isaiah that He is the Creator and Lord of history. The Catechism explains that sometimes God works directly as the first cause of things and events (CCC 304) and sometimes God works indirectly through secondary causes (CCC 306-307). “For God grants his creatures not only their existence, but also the dignity of acting on their own, of being causes and principles for each other, and thus of cooperating in the accomplishment of his plan.”

The Catechism uses the famous words of Jesus about repaying Caesar and God (Matthew 22:21) from this Sunday’s Gospel to justify disobedience of “the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel,” although such disobedience must be “within the limits of natural law and the Law of the Gospel” (CCC 2242). In other words, we have a right to disobey civil authorities when they are out of harmony with Catholic Doctrine, but our disobedience should be in harmony with Catholic Doctrine since Catholic Doctrine is the best interpreter of natural law and the Gospel.

• From the First Reading (Isaiah 45:1, 4-6): Is 45:5-7 is cited in CCC
• From the Alleluia (Philippians 2:15d, 16a): Phil 2:15 is cited in CCC
• From the Gospel (Matthew 22:15-21): Mt 22:21 is cited in CCC

October 29, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s First Reading, we have examples of “sin that cries to heaven” (CCC 1867): molesting or oppressing foreigners, widows, or orphans (Exodus 22:20-22). Two points about “sin that cries to heaven” might be important. First, “[t]here are acts which, in and of themselves, independently of circumstances and intentions, are always gravely [immoral] by reason of their object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder and adultery. One may not do evil so that good may result from it” (CCC 1756). Second, in order to be guilty, blameworthy, or at fault for committing an intrinsically wrong action, the person committing the action must know it is wrong and freely choose to do it anyway (CCC 1859, 1862).

It might be important to add a few points about morality. “Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the [fault for] a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man” (CCC 1860). At its most basic, the moral law is: Due good and avoid doing evil. Its principal precepts are found in the Ten Commandments. For more on conscience and the moral law, see CCC 1776-1802 and 1949-1960. “The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders” (CCC 1860). However, [f]eigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of sin” (CCC 1859). We cannot hide our minds and hearts from God.

Since mistreatment of foreigners is a “sin that cries to heaven,” and since immigration is a pressing issue, here are the key doctrines (CCC 2241):

• “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.”
• “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.”
• “Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”

Catholic Doctrine leaves immense room for reasonable disagreement on immigration policies and procedures. It gives no ground for open borders and chaos. Tying immigration in with morality, “[a] good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered . . . good or just. The end [or goal] does not justify the means [or method]” (CCC 1753).

God’s “Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus” (Thessalonians 1:10) are words from the Second Reading that are cited by the Catechism to teach that “[f]rom the beginning this acknowledgement of Christ’s divine sonship [has been] the center of the apostolic faith” (CCC 442). Although there are different meanings of “son of God” in Sacred Scripture (see CCC 441), the Apostles and all true disciples of Christ rightfully use it to mean that Jesus is God the Son, the divine son, the only son of God who is also God – and who established the Magisterium of the Catholic Church as the only authoritative source of doctrine.

• From the First Reading (Exodus 22:20-26): Ex 22:20-22 is cited in CCC
• From the Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10): 1 Thes 1:10 is cited in CCC

[1] There are too many citations, or references, in the Catechism to the verses in a month of Sunday Mass readings to identify all the pertinent doctrines, so I will use my best judgment to select which verses and doctrines to cover in a column that may not exceed 2,000 words. The bullet points allow the reader to explore further the Biblical basis of Catholic Doctrine.

[2] CCC abbreviates Catechism of the Catholic Church. Any number after it is the number of a paragraph in the Catechism. For example, “CCC 1694” means paragraph 1694 of the Catechism.

[3] If a Reading is not listed, then none of its verses is cited by the CCC.