Daily Readings - Thu Nov 02 2023

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

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

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 encounter powerful reflections on hope, resurrection, and the transformative power of self-giving love. The first reading from Job captures the depths of his suffering, yet amidst his pain, Job clings to an unshakable hope in his Redeemer. He expresses his confidence that even in death, his Redeemer lives and that he will one day see God face to face. This passage reminds us that faith is not about escaping suffering but about trusting in God’s ultimate triumph over it. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our gaze to the resurrection of Christ, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Paul emphasizes that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection come through Christ. This passage underscores the universal scope of salvation—Christ’s resurrection is not just for the few but for all, and it is through Him that we are brought to life. The Gospel from John complements this by presenting Jesus’ own words about the necessity of self-sacrifice. Jesus uses the metaphor of the grain of wheat that must fall to the ground and die to bear fruit, teaching us that true life comes through letting go of our own selfish desires. He calls us to follow Him in this path of self-giving love, promising that where He is, His servants will also be. These readings invite us to reflect on the paradox of Christian life: that death precedes resurrection, and that self-giving love is the path to true fulfillment. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this mystery, trusting that even in moments of darkness or sacrifice, God is at work bringing new life. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to “fall to the ground” and let go? How can I imitate Christ’s self-giving love in my relationships and decisions? May we, like Job, hold fast to the hope of eternal life, and may we, like Christ, find joy in serving others, knowing that our ultimate reward is to be with Him forever.