Daily Readings - Mon Nov 02 2020

¹⁷VAU. And my soul has been driven away from peace; I have forgotten what is good¹⁸VAU. And I said, "My end and my hope from the Lord has perished.¹⁹ZAIN. Remember my poverty and my transgression, the wormwood and the gall²⁰ZAIN. I will call to mind the past, and my soul shall languish within me²¹ZAIN. These recollections are in my heart; therefore, I shall hope²²HETH. By the mercies of the Lord, we are not consumed. For his compassion has not passed away²³HETH. I know it at first light; great is your faithfulness²⁴HETH. "The Lord is my portion," said my soul. Because of this, I will wait for him²⁵TETH. The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him²⁶TETH. It is good to stand ready in silence for the salvation of God

1 Corinthians

Chapter 15

⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery. Certainly, we shall all rise again, but we shall not all be transformed⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise up, incorruptible. And we shall be transformed⁵³Thus, it is necessary for this corruptibility to be clothed with incorruptibility, and for this mortality to be clothed with immortality⁵⁴And when this mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the word that was written shall occur: "Death is swallowed up in victory.⁵⁵"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?⁵⁶Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

Gospel - Matthew 11.25-30 or John 12.23-26

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁵At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones²⁶Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you²⁷All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls³⁰For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.

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 hope, transformation, and the invitation to rest in God’s presence. The first reading from Lamentations expresses a deep sorrow and sense of loss, yet it holds onto hope in God’s mercies. The author reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, God’s faithfulness endures, and His compassion never fails. This text, likely written during a time of great affliction for the people of Israel, calls us to trust in God’s goodness even when all seems lost. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our gaze to the ultimate hope of the resurrection. St. Paul reminds us that our current struggles are not the end of the story. Through Christ, death has been defeated, and we will all be transformed. This passage is a powerful reminder that our lives are not limited to this earthly existence but are oriented toward eternal life with God. The resurrection is not just a future event but a present reality that shapes how we live today. In the Gospel, Jesus offers us an invitation to rest. He speaks to those who are burdened and weary, promising refreshment and peace. Jesus’ words are an invitation to reorient our lives around Him, to take on His yoke, which is “sweet and light.” This is not a call to escape our struggles but to find strength and meaning in them by uniting ourselves to Christ. Like the readings from Lamentations and Corinthians, the Gospel encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to find hope in His promises. These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in hope, even when life feels heavy. We are called to trust in God’s faithfulness, to look forward to the ultimate victory over death, and to find rest in Christ’s presence. Let us carry this hope with us, especially in moments of struggle, and let us turn to Jesus, who promises to refresh our souls and give us the strength to carry on.