Daily Readings - Thu Nov 02 2017
First Reading - Job 19.1, 23-27
Job
1Then Job answered and said,23Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 15.20-23
1 Corinthians
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Gospel - John 12.23-26
John
23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound themes of hope, resurrection, and self-sacrifice. The first reading from Job presents a man in the depths of suffering, yet his faith remains unshaken. Job declares his trust in a Redeemer who will one day raise him from the earth, a testament to his unwavering hope in God's promise. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, faith can be a powerful source of strength and comfort.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians expands on this theme of resurrection. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. Jesus is the first-fruits of this resurrection, and through Him, all believers will be brought to life. This passage underscores the universal significance of Christ's resurrection and its implications for all humanity. It invites us to see our own lives in the context of God's larger plan of salvation.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that true life comes through self-sacrifice. Using the metaphor of the grain of wheat, He explains that unless we die to ourselves, we cannot bear fruit. This is a call to live a life of service and love, following the example of Christ. The readings today remind us that our faith is rooted in the hope of eternal life, and that this hope transforms how we live in the present. May we embrace the call to die to ourselves, trusting that in doing so, we will find true life in Christ.