Daily Readings - Thu Nov 02 2017

First Reading - Job 19.1, 23-27

¹But Job answered by saying²³Who will grant to me that my words may be written down? Who will grant to me that they may be inscribed in a book²⁴with an iron pen and a plate of lead, or else be carved in stone²⁵For I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day I will rise out of the earth²⁶And I will be enveloped again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God²⁷It is he whom I myself will see, and he whom my eyes will behold, and no other. This, my hope, has taken rest in my bosom

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 15.20-23

1 Corinthians

Chapter 15

²⁰But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep²¹For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a ma²²And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life²³but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent

Gospel - John 12.23-26

John

Chapter 12

²³But Jesus answered them by saying: "The hour arrives when the Son of man shall be glorified²⁴Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies²⁵it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life²⁶If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there too my minister shall be. If anyone has served me, my Father will honor him

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound themes of hope, resurrection, and self-sacrifice. The first reading from Job presents a man in the depths of suffering, yet his faith remains unshaken. Job declares his trust in a Redeemer who will one day raise him from the earth, a testament to his unwavering hope in God's promise. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, faith can be a powerful source of strength and comfort. The second reading from 1 Corinthians expands on this theme of resurrection. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. Jesus is the first-fruits of this resurrection, and through Him, all believers will be brought to life. This passage underscores the universal significance of Christ's resurrection and its implications for all humanity. It invites us to see our own lives in the context of God's larger plan of salvation. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that true life comes through self-sacrifice. Using the metaphor of the grain of wheat, He explains that unless we die to ourselves, we cannot bear fruit. This is a call to live a life of service and love, following the example of Christ. The readings today remind us that our faith is rooted in the hope of eternal life, and that this hope transforms how we live in the present. May we embrace the call to die to ourselves, trusting that in doing so, we will find true life in Christ.