Daily Readings - Mon Nov 02 2020
Lamentations
17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.22It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
1 Corinthians
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel - Matthew 11.25-30 or John 12.23-26
Matthew
25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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 hope, transformation, and the invitation to rest in God’s presence. The first reading from Lamentations expresses a deep sorrow and sense of loss, yet it holds onto hope in God’s mercies. The author reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, God’s faithfulness endures, and His compassion never fails. This text, likely written during a time of great affliction for the people of Israel, calls us to trust in God’s goodness even when all seems lost.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our gaze to the ultimate hope of the resurrection. St. Paul reminds us that our current struggles are not the end of the story. Through Christ, death has been defeated, and we will all be transformed. This passage is a powerful reminder that our lives are not limited to this earthly existence but are oriented toward eternal life with God. The resurrection is not just a future event but a present reality that shapes how we live today.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers us an invitation to rest. He speaks to those who are burdened and weary, promising refreshment and peace. Jesus’ words are an invitation to reorient our lives around Him, to take on His yoke, which is “sweet and light.” This is not a call to escape our struggles but to find strength and meaning in them by uniting ourselves to Christ. Like the readings from Lamentations and Corinthians, the Gospel encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to find hope in His promises.
These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in hope, even when life feels heavy. We are called to trust in God’s faithfulness, to look forward to the ultimate victory over death, and to find rest in Christ’s presence. Let us carry this hope with us, especially in moments of struggle, and let us turn to Jesus, who promises to refresh our souls and give us the strength to carry on.