Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 2, 2019
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
Psalm 103
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses3He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities4He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion5He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle6The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries7He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities11For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him14For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust15Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish16For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons18with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them19The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all20Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse21Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will22Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.20-23
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
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 encounter profound reflections on hope, resurrection, and self-sacrifice. The first reading from Job presents a man in the depths of suffering, yet unwavering in his faith. Job clings to the hope of a Redeemer who will one day raise him from the dead, a hope that transcends his current anguish. This passage, written in a time of great personal trial, highlights Job's unshakable trust in God's promise of redemption.
In the second reading, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians about the resurrection of Christ, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection come through Christ. This passage serves as a theological foundation for our Christian hope, reminding us that our resurrection is inextricably linked to Christ's. We are called to live in the hope of eternal life, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to rise with Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of the grain of wheat to teach about the necessity of self-sacrifice. He says that unless the wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. This is both a call to discipleship and a reminder that true life comes through surrender. Jesus is not speaking of physical death but of dying to oneself—letting go of selfish desires and ambitions for the sake of following Him.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Job's hope in the Redeemer, Paul's teaching on the resurrection, and Jesus' call to self-sacrifice all point to the same truth: our ultimate victory over death and sin comes through Christ. Job's faith in the midst of suffering, Paul's theological clarity, and Jesus' call to radical discipleship all invite us to live with eyes fixed on eternal life.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I placing my hope? Am I willing to let go of my own desires and ambitions to follow Christ? The promise of resurrection is not just a future reality but a present one. By dying to ourselves daily, we can already begin to experience the fruitfulness of eternal life. May we, like Job, hold fast to our hope in the Redeemer, and may we, like Christ, be willing to surrender for the sake of others, trusting that in doing so, we will find true life.