Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 10, 2019
First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7.1-2, 7, 9-14
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Psalm 17
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.11They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2.16 – 3.5
1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Gospel: Luke 20.27, 34-38
27Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,34And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.37Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, the promise of resurrection, and the hope that sustains us in the face of adversity. In the first reading from 2 Maccabees, we encounter the courageous witness of seven brothers and their mother who endure brutal torture rather than betray their faith. Despite the king’s attempts to break their resolve, they remain steadfast, trusting in God’s promise of eternal life. Their martyrdom is a testament to the enduring strength of faith, even in the face of death. The second reading from 2 Thessalonians offers a message of encouragement, reminding us that God is always faithful and will strengthen us in our trials. It exhorts us to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel and to trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a debate with the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection. He explains that life after death is not a continuation of this world but a radical transformation. Those who are raised will live in a state akin to the angels, free from the limitations of this earthly existence. Jesus grounds his teaching in Scripture, citing the encounter of Moses with God, who identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—living beings, not the dead. This underscores the truth that God is the God of the living, and the dead will rise again.
These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the hope of eternal life and the transformative power of faith. The brothers in 2 Maccabees endure suffering because they trust in the resurrection; the Thessalonians are encouraged to remain faithful, knowing God will sustain them; and Jesus teaches that the resurrection is not merely a doctrine but a reality that reshapes our understanding of life and death. For us today, these readings call us to live with hope, even in the midst of challenges. Let us trust in God’s faithfulness, remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel, and remember that our ultimate destiny is not this world but eternal life with God. May we, like the brothers and their mother, face life’s trials with courage, knowing that our hope in the resurrection will one day be fulfilled.