November 8, 2026
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this weeks' readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this weeks' readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
Wisdom 6:12-16
Ps 63 (62): 2.3-4. 5-6. 7-8.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:42a-44
Prelim: this Sunday and next deal with the Lord’s coming at the end of time (because in two weeks time we celebrate the feast of Christ the King and the last Sunday in the Liturgical Year). For these two Sundays the Church has selected two parables that insist on the urgent necessity of an active watchfulness, since no one can say when the Son of Man will come (Days of the Lord: The Liturgical Year). The two passages from St Paul also deal with the end time.
As the 'Days of the Lord' remind us: the celebration of these two Sundays urges us to a fresh awareness of an essential and dynamic dimension of the believers life as well as of the liturgy: “We are expecting your glorious coming. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Wisdom
The most recent of all the writings in the Old Testament, the Book of Wisdom is the work of a poet and spiritual master. It is addressed to kings and judges and all who have responsibilities in government, leadership and discernment: that they understand human destiny and history. The writer suggests that all persons reflect and meditate on experience. Life is not just about facts, but something far deeper. Reflection and meditation gives one a wisdom which is rooted in God, the source of wisdom.
The writer personifies Wisdom and describes her as resplendent and attractive. He speaks to her, hears her speak, shows her at work in the world near those who seek her and let her guide them. Reflection rises to the level of mystical meditation on God, who governs the world he created and assists humanity to walk according to his laws. Once we have a sense of her (Wisdom) beauty we cannot rest until we find her. Wisdom is a lover, who also speaks to the beloved! Only the language of poetry and love is able to express the quest for God that the Book of Wisdom articulates.
Thessalonians
Paul is pondering the question which presumably the Thessalonians are struggling with, which is, does death definitely end human existence or is there still life? If there is life what sort of life? In short, Paul reminds them that faith in everyone’s resurrection is based on Jesus‘s resurrection.
It seems that the Thessalonians worry about how the dead can participate in Jesus' return, which they believe will happen soon! Paul's response, do “not grieve as others do who have no hope… God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep”.
Paul implies that time is meaningless and cannot be used as we use it now, when talking about eternity and resurrection.
Matthew
Jesus' discussion, or preaching, on “The End of Time and the Second Coming“ (Chs 24 and 25), ends with the three parables (Conscientious Steward; Ten Virgins; The Talents) that show clearly Jesus' teaching on the end of time and the Lord’s return. These parables make us understand how we must live today in the perspective of the Day that will not fail to come. Today (32 Sunday) the Ten Virgins; next Sunday The Talents; and the Conscientious Steward on Thursday of Week 21 (come and gone!).
The parable is based on a situation of ordinary life. The ten young girls went, as is the custom, to the bride‘s house, waiting with her until the bridegroom came to lead her to his home. There is a delay, five of the young girls run out of oil and missed the bridegroom when he arrived because they are purchasing fresh oil! A strange parable with many traits introduced, which I will not go into, which probably would not happen. But a parable is not meant to be factual, rather a story to convey a message. The core of the story is: we shall be kept waiting for the Lord’s coming; it will be unforeseeable; it will happen suddenly. And those taken by surprise, will be “lost”. Those alert and prepared, will be “found”.
The lesson is a moral one. It results from faith in Jesus, who is, who was, who is coming again, whom we have found, whose return we are expecting. This faith is at the heart of the Church’s life. The liturgy, chiefly that of the Paschal Vigil and of the Night Office, reflects such a faith (Days of the Lord).
Worth noting:
Today is Remembrance Sunday. One Mass may be offered for the Dead (if so, no Gloria)
National Prayer Cycle: The Dead of Wars. Flower displays including poppies might be considered. One General Intercession should be for the Dead of Wars, and another for an end to war.
If a Mass for the Dead is offered, especially in the morning, it is fitting that it should begin in absolute silence. That means strictly no admittance once the entrance procession has begun until after the Opening Prayer. Welcomers should be made aware. Also, perhaps Children’s Liturgy might begin before Mass on this occasion. A poppy wreath might be part of the Opening Procession, perhaps carried by a parishioner who is an (ex-)member of the Armed Forces who could lay it in the sanctuary.
Although the Missal allows for a Mass for the Dead today, the Mass texts for “In Time of War or Civil Disturbance” are especially apposite:
O God, merciful and strong, who crush wars and cast down the proud, be pleased to banish violence from our midst and to wipe away all tears, so that we may all truly deserve to be called your children. (Collect, option 1)
So, too, is the Eucharistic Prayerfor Reconciliation II:
For though the human race is divided by division and discord, …. by your Spirit you move human hearts that enemies may speak to each other again, adversaries join hands, and peoples seek to meet together. By the working of your power it comes about, O Lord, that hatred is overcome with love, revenge gives way to forgiveness, and discord is changed to mutual respect.
When Mass is at the same time or overlaps the local civic Act of Remembrance at 11.00am and a priest or deacon is not free to go, we might consider sending a member of the Parish Council or other person to represent the parish officially by laying a wreath. Liaison with the local council may be needed.
We can hear the actual moment of the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front on 11th of November 1918 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-eOkQi1WlU. Listen for the birdsong at the very end. Truly moving.
The suggested hymns have been chosen from Laudate (L) and the Celebration Hymnal for Everyone (CFE):
Lo he comes with clouds descending (CFE373, L109)
Awake, awake fling off the night (CFE64, L854)
Lift up your heads ye mighty gates (CFE364, L105)
Wait for the Lord (CFE762, L88)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
