Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 6, 2022
First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7.1-2, 7, 9-14
1And it happened also that seven brothers, united with their mother, were apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law, being tormented with scourges and whips2But one of them, who was first, spoke in this way: "What would you ask, or what would you want to learn from us? We are ready to die, rather than to betray the laws that our fathers received from God.7And so, when the first had died in this way, they led in the next one, so as to ridicule him. And when the skin of his head was pulled off with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, instead of being punished throughout the whole body in every limb9And when he had reached his last breath, he spoke in this way: "You, indeed, O most wicked man, are destroying us in this present life. But the King of the world will raise us up, in eternal life at the resurrection, for we die on behalf of his laws.10After this one, the third was ridiculed, and when he was asked, he quickly offered up his tongue, and he resolutely extended his hands11And he said with confidence, "I possess these from heaven, but, because of the laws of God, I now despise them, for I hope to receive them again from him.12So then, the king and those who were with him, wondered at the soul of this youth, because he considered the torments as if they were nothing13And after he had died in this way, they afflicted the fourth with similar tortures14And when he was about to die, he spoke in this way: "It is preferable, being put to death by men, to wait for hope from God, so as to be revived again by him. But the resurrection to life will not be for you
Psalm 17
1A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips2Let my judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness3You have tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me4Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips5Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed6I have cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words7Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you8From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect me under the shadow of your wings9from the face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul10They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly11They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth12They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding13Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand14Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life. Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores. They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder15But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2.16 – 3.5
1Concerning other things, brothers, pray for us, so that the Word of God may advance and be glorified, just as it is among you2and so that we may be freed from pertinacious and evil men. For not everyone is faithful3But God is faithful. He will strengthen you, and he will guard you from evil4And we have confidence about you in the Lord, that you are doing, and will continue to do, just as we have instructed5And may the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God and with the patience of Christ
Gospel: Luke 20.27, 34-38
27Now some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, approached him. And they questioned him34And so, Jesus said to them: "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage35Yet truly, those who shall be held worthy of that age, and of the resurrection from the dead, will neither be married, nor take wives36For they can no longer die. For they are equal to the Angels, and they are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection37For in truth, the dead do rise again, as Moses also showed beside the bush, when he called the Lord: ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38And so he is not the God of the dead, but of the living. For all are alive to him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful reflections on faith, hope, and the promise of eternal life. The first reading from 2 Maccabees narrates the courageous story of seven brothers and their mother who endure brutal torture rather than betray their faith. Their unwavering belief in the resurrection gives them the strength to face death, trusting that God will raise them to eternal life. This story highlights the profound trust in God's promise even in the face of extreme adversity.
The second reading from 2 Thessalonians offers a prayer for strength and perseverance, encouraging the community to remain faithful despite challenges. It reminds us that while not everyone may remain faithful, God is always faithful, providing the strength needed to live according to His will. This reading complements the first by emphasizing the importance of steadfastness in faith, a theme that is central to both.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages with the Sadducees, who question the concept of resurrection. Jesus explains that life after resurrection is beyond earthly bonds like marriage, resembling the angels and being children of God. He affirms that God is the God of the living, not the dead, reinforcing the reality of eternal life. This teaching ties together the themes of resurrection and trust in God's plan.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and hope. In our daily lives, we face various trials, but the promise of resurrection reminds us that our struggles are temporary. We are called to trust in God's eternal plan, just as the Maccabean brothers did, and to remain steadfast in our faith, as encouraged by Paul. Let us hold onto this hope, knowing that our true home is with God, where we will live in eternal joy and peace.