32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word: Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King, is our hope for eternal life.
Theme: We have hope for eternal life as we endure our sufferings for Christ.
Promise: “The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thes 3:3)
Reflection:
Death and sufferings are two life realities that we often avoid discussing or refuse to face. As believers of God’s word and disciples in a faith community, we draw strength and consolation in Christ amidst our worries and fears. It is our hope in Christ that gives light in the dark valley as we are confidently inspired by Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Let us reflect on how we, as disciples, respond when we are confronted by some physical, emotional or spiritual challenges in this life.
Our Theme for the first week of November states – We have hope for eternal life as we endure our sufferings for Christ. Hope gives energy to life because it allows us to bear and see a better future beyond our dire present situation. We all experience loneliness, weakness, lack of drive to pursue our work, our plans and we sometimes succumb to helplessness and despair due to health, financial, emotional challenges and other life struggles that come our way.
The 1st Reading presents to us a dark moment in the history of Israel. They were under persecution but they continued to persevere in their faith in the Lord and their belief in resurrection. They would rather suffer and die than follow an order that is contrary to their belief. They trusted God who is the source of everything including their own lives. They hope in God’s promise that they will live forever. What an awesome faith and hope in God’s providence and power!
God is the source of hope of salvation. It is through a life of prayer, a life obedient to the Lord’s commands, always drawing inspiration from His word that we can gain hope, because only God can give hope.
A few days ago, we commemorated All Saints Day. Let us be inspired by the lives of the Saints who suffered hardships in life and persecution, but remained faithful to God. They now reap true resurrection in Christ and eternal life. We also continue to pray for our dearly departed that they too will experience the life promised by our Lord in His kingdom, as written in Psalm 17 “Lord, when your glory appears, may their joy be full.”
Let us take to heart the exhortation of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, ”May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through His grace, encourage our hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” And we claim His promise in verse 3 – “The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thes 3:3)
Prayer:
Almighty God, our ever merciful Father, we put our hope in You. You are our just and compassionate Creator. You are our beginning and our end. You are the Alpha and Omega. You are our eternal rest and reward. Watch over us and lead us daily to You alone. We long to be always in Your presence and may our life merits Your presence now and forever, in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
And we ask for the loving intercession of our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:

1. How do you go through the inconveniences, pains and sufferings in life? Do you merely complain instead of praying and offering them to Jesus on the cross?
2. How prepared are you to merit eternal life? Do your daily actions prepare you towards the heavenly goal?
3. Reflect on death and intercede for the souls in purgatory in your daily prayers.
   This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
   November 6, 2022 (Sun) – 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14/ Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15/ 2Thes 2:16 – 3:5/ Lk 20:27-38
   November 7, 2022 (Mon) – Ti 1:1-9/ Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/ Lk 17:1-6
   November 8, 2022 (Tue) – Ti 2:1-8, 11-14/ Ps 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29/ Lk 17:7-10
   November 9, 2022 (Wed) – Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12/ Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9/ 1Cor 3:9-13,16,17/ Jn 2:13-22
   November 10, 2022 (Thu) – Phlm 7-20/ Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10/ Lk 17:20-25
   November 11, 2022 (Fri) – 2 Jn 4-9/ Ps 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18/ Lk 17:26-37
   November 12, 2022 (Sat) – 3 Jn 5-8/ Ps 112:1-26, 3-4, 5-6/ Lk 18:1-8
   “Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”