Msgr. Roger J. Landry
NYC Leonine Chapter, IESE Business School
Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I
Memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
October 16, 2025
Rom 3:21-30, Ps 130, Lk 11:47-54
 
To listen to an audio recording of this homily, please click here: 
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/10.16.25_Homily_1.mp3
 
The following points were attempted in the homily: 

* Meaning of faith and how we’re justified by grace, received by faith, working through love.
* We’re supposed to live our faith rather than pretend as if we’re really living by faith in God like many of the Scribes and Pharisees.
* The 350th anniversary of the apparitions of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque are an occasion for us to see how we are receiving and responding to the grace of God received by faith living out in love. Jesus spoke to her and through her to us about the way we respond to him in the Sacrament of Love, the Holy Eucharist.
* Tonight is an opportunity to make him in the Eucharist the biggest difference in our life, to treat him with reverential, with passion, with holiness, with praise.

 
The readings for tonight’s Mass were:
Reading 1
ROM 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 130:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB
R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.


Gospel
LK 11:47-54
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,