Daily Readings - Fri Nov 02 2018

⁶On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines.⁷On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;⁸he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.⁹In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Revelation

Chapter 14

¹³Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

Luke

Chapter 24

¹³Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him.¹⁷He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"¹⁸They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"¹⁹"What things?" he asked.²⁰"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;²¹but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning²³but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."²⁵He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.²⁹But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.³²They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"³³They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together³⁴and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke 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.