Daily Readings - Fri Nov 02 2018

⁶On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.⁷And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.⁸He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.⁹It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Revelation

Chapter 14

¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

Luke

Chapter 24

¹³That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,¹⁴and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.¹⁵While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.¹⁶But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.¹⁷And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.¹⁸Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"¹⁹And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,²⁰and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.²¹But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.²²Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,²³and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."²⁵And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!²⁶Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.²⁸So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,²⁹but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.³⁰When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.³¹And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.³²They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"³³And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,³⁴saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the hope of eternal life and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a future feast on Mount Zion, where God will destroy death forever and wipe away the tears of his people. This passage is a beautiful expression of messianic hope, pointing to a time when suffering and sorrow will be no more. It reminds us that God’s ultimate plan is one of salvation and restoration. The second reading from Revelation reinforces this hope, declaring that those who die in the Lord are blessed and will find rest from their labors. This passage encourages us to trust in God’s promise of eternal life, even in the midst of trials and hardships. The Gospel from Luke tells the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who were filled with sadness and doubt after the crucifixion of Jesus. Their encounter with the risen Christ transformed their despair into joy and hope. Jesus opened their eyes to the truth of the Scriptures and revealed that his suffering and death were necessary steps toward his glory. This story reminds us that even in moments of uncertainty and grief, God is at work, and his plan is always one of love and redemption. The disciples’ hearts burned within them as Jesus explained the Scriptures, and their recognition of him in the breaking of bread symbolizes the Eucharistic encounter we have with Christ today. These readings call us to live with hope and trust in God’s plan, even when the path seems unclear. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are invited to walk with Christ, to listen to his Word, and to find him in the breaking of bread. Let us allow the promise of eternal life and the truth of the resurrection to transform our fears and sorrows into joy and hope. May we, like the disciples, rise up and return to Jerusalem with renewed hearts, ready to share the good news of God’s love and salvation.