Daily Readings - Thu Nov 02 2023
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.
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.
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 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.