Daily Mass Readings – Monday, 2 November 2026

1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.

2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:

3 And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.

4 And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.

5 Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.

6 As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.

7 The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.

8 They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

9 They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect.

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

1 The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:

3a He hath converted my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

3b He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.

4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

5 And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.

6 For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly?

7 For scarce for a just man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time,

9 Christ died for us; much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

11 And not only so; but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.

Or

3 Know you not that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in his death?

4 For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer.

7 For he that is dead is justified from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ:

9 Knowing that Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

34 Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.

38 Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.

40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.

Scripture places the destiny of the just in the hands of God. What appears to human eyes as loss or destruction is held within a greater hope: those who trust in the Lord are at peace, and their hope is full of immortality. The Shepherd remains with them even in the valley of darkness, guiding them along the paths of justice and preparing a place in his presence.

That hope has its foundation in Christ. He came to do the Father’s will, and that will is wonderfully steadfast: he will lose none of those given to him, but will raise them up on the last day. Through his death, sinners are reconciled to God; through baptism, we are joined to his death and promised a share in his risen life. Christian hope, then, is not wishful thinking. It rests on the love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and on the faithfulness of Jesus, who does not cast out the one who comes to him. We can live this day with greater courage, turning from sin and entrusting ourselves again to the Shepherd who leads us toward the Kingdom.

Merciful Father, hold us in your hand when darkness surrounds us and our path is uncertain. Through Jesus Christ, reconcile us to yourself and keep alive in us the hope of resurrection. Help us remember that our old life of sin has been buried with Christ, so that we may walk in the newness of life. Give us faith to come to your Son without fear, trusting that he will never cast us away. Pour your charity into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and lead us faithfully toward the Kingdom you have prepared. Amen.