Daily Readings for November 3, 2018

1st READING

Paul’s greatest desire is to do God’s will and let the people know about His gift of salvation. Like Paul, may we desire obedience to God and live by His grace. Paul experienced how He powerfully transformed his life and made it his mission to share his knowledge of God’s love and mercy.

Philippians 1:18-26

18 Brothers and sisters: As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, in that I rejoice. Indeed I shall continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will result in deliverance for me through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. 22 If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. 23 I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. 25 And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.

P S A L M 

Psalm 42:2, 3, 5

R: My soul is thirsting for the living God.

1 [2] As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God. (R) 2 [3] Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? (R) 4 [5] I went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God, amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving, with the multitude keeping festival. (R)

GOSPEL 

Humility is an essential aspect of holiness. It is the grace of God that makes us holy; we cannot achieve this on our own. The world demands self-reliance and success, and to admit we are dependent on God is a challenge. The saints readily admitted they are failures without God. May we rely on the Lord for all that we need, for all that we do, and for all that we will become.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. 

Luke 14:1, 7-11

1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”