Humble and Hungry

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge our understanding of the need to be open to humble surrender of our sense of pride and entitlement to fulfill our mission as disciples of Christ.

Humble Healing of Hunger

The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians proclaims the general pattern of Christ’s humiliation and then exaltation. 

* [2:6–11] Perhaps an early Christian hymn quoted here by Paul. The short rhythmic lines fall into two parts, Phil 2:6–8 where the subject of every verb is Christ, and Phil 2:9–11 where the subject is God. The general pattern is thus of Christ’s humiliation and then exaltation. More precise analyses propose a division into six three-line stanzas (Phil 2:6; 7abc, 7d–8, 9, 10, 11) or into three stanzas (Phil 2:6–7ab, 7cd–8, 9–11). Phrases such as even death on a cross (Phil 2:8c) are considered by some to be additions (by Paul) to the hymn, as are Phil 2:10c, 11c.

* [2:6] Either a reference to Christ’s preexistence and those aspects of divinity that he was willing to give up in order to serve in human form, or to what the man Jesus refused to grasp at to attain divinity. Many see an allusion to the Genesis story: unlike Adam, Jesus, though…in the form of God (Gn 1:26–27), did not reach out for equality with God, in contrast with the first Adam in Gn 3:5–6.

* [2:7] Taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness: or “…taking the form of a slave. Coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance.” While it is common to take Phil 2:6, 7 as dealing with Christ’s preexistence and Phil 2:8 with his incarnate life, so that lines Phil 2:7b, 7c are parallel, it is also possible to interpret so as to exclude any reference to preexistence (see note on Phil 2:6) and to take Phil 2:6–8 as presenting two parallel stanzas about Jesus’ human state (Phil 2:6–7b; 7cd–8); in the latter alternative, coming in human likeness begins the second stanza and parallels 6a to some extent.

* [2:8] There may be reflected here language about the servant of the Lord, Is 52:13–53:12 especially Is 53:12.

* [2:9] The name: “Lord” (Phil 2:11), revealing the true nature of the one who is named.

* [2:10–11] Every knee should bend…every tongue confess: into this language of Is 45:23 there has been inserted a reference to the three levels in the universe, according to ancient thought, heaven, earth, under the earth.

* [2:11] Jesus Christ is Lord: a common early Christian acclamation; cf. 1 Cor 12:3; Rom 10:9. But doxology to God the Father is not overlooked here (Phil 2:11c) in the final version of the hymn. (Philippians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 22 presents an invitation to praise God becoming a universal chorus of praise .

* [Psalm 22] A lament unusual in structure and in intensity of feeling. The psalmist’s present distress is contrasted with God’s past mercy in Ps 22:2–12. In Ps 22:13–22 enemies surround the psalmist. The last third is an invitation to praise God (Ps 22:23–27), becoming a universal chorus of praise (Ps 22:28–31). The Psalm is important in the New Testament. Its opening words occur on the lips of the crucified Jesus (Mk 15:34; Mt 27:46), and several other verses are quoted, or at least alluded to, in the accounts of Jesus’ passion (Mt 27:35, 43; Jn 19:24). (Psalms, PSALM 22 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Parable of the Great Feast.

* [14:15–24] The parable of the great dinner is a further illustration of the rejection by Israel, God’s chosen people, of Jesus’ invitation to share in the banquet in the kingdom and the extension of the invitation to other Jews whose identification as the poor, crippled, blind, and lame (Lk 14:21) classifies them among those who recognize their need for salvation, and to Gentiles (Lk 14:23). A similar parable is found in Mt 22:1–10. (Luke, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Joan Blandin Howard (*This reflection is from Creighton Online Ministry’s Archive from 2020.*) asks who would Jesus invite to a festive gathering if his invited friends were not able to attend?

When my mother was in her final years and dealing with senile dementia, we had several delightful, compassionate and caring women come to assist in her care. Why did I not think to invite these women when others could not come? Why did I not think to invite them initially?

Maybe we are well off not to “taste (the man’s) dinner.” Our God does not fly into a rage when we don’t respond as God would have wished. Our God continues to invite all of us over and over and over again. Our God is delighted when we run out of excuses for sending our regrets. Our God’s meal is always tender and tasty and his beverages fresh off the vine!  We are always graciously welcomed. The Lord’s table is set – whenever I run out of excuses!(Howard, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The heavenly food of Jesus' word,” by Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD)

"The holy agape is the sublime and saving creation of the Lord... An agape is in reality heavenly food, a banquet of the Word. The agape, or love, 'bears all things, endures all things, hopes all things. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). 'Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God' (Luke 14:15). The most unlikely of all downfalls is charity that does not fail to be thrown down from heaven to earth among all these dainty seasonings. Do you still imagine that I refer to a meal that will be destroyed? (1 Corinthians 6:13) 'If I distribute my goods to the poor and do not have love,' Scripture says, 'I am nothing' (1 Corinthians 13:3). The whole law and the word depend on this love (Matthew 22:40). If you love the Lord your God and your neighbor (Mark 12:30-31), there will be a heavenly feast in heaven. The earthly feast, as we have proved from Scripture, is called a supper. It is permeated with love yet is not identified with it but is an expression of mutual and generous good will." (excerpt from CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 2,1)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 14:15-24 comments that we, too, have been invited to a banquet—the heavenly feast that will last for all eternity. This is far more than a social event; this banquet is the goal of our lives! God wants us to give him the first place in our hearts so that we can join him in this feast.

So let’s open our hearts in prayer today. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to show us which relationships or concerns are occupying the first place in our lives or distracting us from preparing to join the banquet. Then we can offer them to the Lord and ask him to help us put them in their rightful place so that whenever we hear him calling, we can respond promptly.

Jesus has invited you to his heavenly banquet, and he eagerly awaits your response.

“Jesus, help me to hear your invitation and respond with an undivided heart!” (Meditation on Luke 14:15-24, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Sally Severino who writes of the process of aging as an opportunity to more fully experience union with God. Severino describes how, by fully welcoming our oneness with God, we can offer our lives to the world:

We are not only the recipients of divine love; we are also the dispensers of love in the world. When we are one with Christ, our hearts and souls are full of a compassion that then flows out into the world through Christ….

We are each given the mind of Christ and the ability to give this gift to others. All we need to do is become aware, be grateful, and share our uniqueness with the world around us. Christ encourages us to do as he did—to act freely, expressing our gift in each unrepeatable moment of our lives. The spirituality of aging is a process of becoming increasingly Christlike—of emptying ourselves until only God lives within us. Just as we are each a unique image of Christ in the world, so too is our ripening process unique. God is always knocking, wanting to enter our lives. All we need to do is open.(Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit for the Wisdom to accept invitations to a full life that require our exercise of faith, hope and charity.

References

Howard, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-november-3-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/14?15 

Meditation on Luke 14:15-24. (2026, November 3). The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/11/03/1706797/ 

Philippians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2? 

Psalms, PSALM 22 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/22? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Giving to Others. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/giving-to-others/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Invitation to the King's Banquet Table. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Ripening and Eternal Rest

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, challenge us to assess our path of ripening in the light of thanksgiving for our faith, hope, and love.

Ripening to Our Rest

The Book of Wisdom presents the Hidden Counsels of God ON SUFFERING

* [3:1–12] The author affirms that, for the righteous, sufferings are not punishments but purification and opportunities to show fidelity, whereas for the wicked suffering is truly a punishment.

* [3:6] Offerings: the image is that of the burnt offering, in which the victim is completely consumed by fire.

* [3:7] Judgment: the Greek episkopē is God’s loving judgment of those who have been faithful to him; the same word is used in 14:11 for the punishment of the wicked at God’s judgment. Cf. also v. 13. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 23 proclaims God’s loving care under the figures of a shepherd for the flock.

* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).

* [23:1] My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).

* [23:3] Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”

* [23:5] You set a table before me: this expression occurs in an exodus context in Ps 78:19. In front of my enemies: my enemies see that I am God’s friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Ps 104:15; Mt 26:7; Lk 7:37, 46; Jn 12:2).

* [23:6] Goodness and mercy: the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel. (Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Letter of Paul to the Romans is a commitment to teach believers patience and to strengthen hope, which dwells in their hearts and imbues them with God’s Faith, Hope, and Love.

* [5:1–11] Popular piety frequently construed reverses and troubles as punishment for sin; cf. Jn 9:2. Paul therefore assures believers that God’s justifying action in Jesus Christ is a declaration of peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ displays God’s initiative in certifying humanity for unimpeded access into the divine presence. Reconciliation is God’s gift of pardon to the entire human race. Through faith one benefits personally from this pardon or, in Paul’s term, is justified. The ultimate aim of God is to liberate believers from the pre-Christian self as described in Rom 1–3. Since this liberation will first find completion in the believer’s resurrection, salvation is described as future in Rom 5:10. Because this fullness of salvation belongs to the future it is called the Christian hope. Paul’s Greek term for hope does not, however, suggest a note of uncertainty, to the effect: “I wonder whether God really means it.” Rather, God’s promise in the gospel fills believers with expectation and anticipation for the climactic gift of unalloyed commitment in the holy Spirit to the performance of the will of God. The persecutions that attend Christian commitment are to teach believers patience and to strengthen this hope, which will not disappoint them because the holy Spirit dwells in their hearts and imbues them with God’s love (Rom 5:5).

* [5:1] We have peace: a number of manuscripts, versions, and church Fathers read “Let us have peace”; cf. Rom 14:19.

* [5:7] In the world of Paul’s time the good person is especially one who is magnanimous to others. (Romans, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Letter of Paul to the Romans proclaims Freedom from Sin and Life in God.

* [6:1–11] To defend the gospel against the charge that it promotes moral laxity (cf. Rom 3:5–8), Paul expresses himself in the typical style of spirited diatribe. God’s display of generosity or grace is not evoked by sin but, as stated in Rom 5:8 is the expression of God’s love, and this love pledges eternal life to all believers (Rom 5:21). Paul views the present conduct of the believers from the perspective of God’s completed salvation when the body is resurrected and directed totally by the holy Spirit. Through baptism believers share the death of Christ and thereby escape from the grip of sin. Through the resurrection of Christ the power to live anew becomes reality for them, but the fullness of participation in Christ’s resurrection still lies in the future. But life that is lived in dedication to God now is part and parcel of that future. Hence anyone who sincerely claims to be interested in that future will scarcely be able to say, “Let us sin so that grace may prosper” (cf. Rom 6:1). (Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John proclaims God’s revelation in Jesus in the The Bread of Life Discourse.

* [6:35–5, 9] Up to Jn 6:50 “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in Jn 6:51–58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between Jn 6:50–51. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, comments that in today’s Gospel, Christ calls each one of us to believe in him and follow him. Let us pray for the grace to accept the “Happy Chance” by following Christ because his path purges us to become an acceptable offering.

This gift of purgation is always available to us. It is the wonderful process of renouncing the very self from inordinate attachments in order to attach ourselves to God. It is to lose ourselves in God only to find ourselves. While purgation can be painful because it involves detaching ourselves from false hope, its outcome is freedom, love, and peace.

Saint Faustina, in her Diary, wrote about the purgation God gave her, while assuring her not to fear because he was always with her. Saint John of the Cross described it as the “dark night of the soul,” through which God leads the soul in order to purge the attachments that hinder its union with him. He refers to this purgation as a “Happy Chance,” because through it the soul escapes bondage and restrictions to be united with God. (Meze, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Whoever sees and believes,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"He has said two things: 'This is the work of God that you should believe in the one whom he has sent,' while here he added, 'whoever sees and believes.' The Jews saw but did not believe; they had the one condition, lacked the other. How could they attain to eternal life without the other? The reason those who saw did not attain eternal life was because they did not also believe. If so, what about us who have believed but have not seen? If it is those two things that earn eternal life, seeing and believing - and whoever is lacking one of them cannot attain to the reward of eternal life - what are we to do? The Jews [who saw him] lacked the one; we the other. They had seeing but lacked believing. We have believing but lack seeing. Well, as regards our having believing and lacking seeing, we have prophetically been declared blessed by the Lord himself just as Thomas, one of the Twelve, was blessed when he felt [Jesus'] scars by touching them." (excerpt from HOLY VIRGINITY 3.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. In the Book of Wisdom one of the last in the Hebrew Testament, written in Greek and not in the Protestant Canon presents souls in the hands of God who have a special route planned for them. Jewish faith people are no longer about Sheol, at this time, but understand a reward for the faithful in death. Paul proclaims Jesus died for us as we were still sinners. We have been reconciled and will be raised like Jesus. Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John 6 proclaims the close relationship between Father and Son. They who are one with the Son will be raised. In John, the text usually refers to a realized eschatology but this is a future eschatology in the Bread of Life Discourse. Friar Jude notes that Jesus, truly present now in the Eucharist, will be present in heaven in a way where we will see Jesus face to face.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Wisdom 3:1-9 comments that St. Paul wrote, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God loved us before we deserved it. And he never stopped loving us. So we’re not trying to persuade God to be merciful; we already know he is.

So as you pray for your loved ones who have gone before you, let the Lord fill you with confidence in his unshakable commitment to his own. Let him plant the hope for immortality in your heart. And let him lift your eyes to heaven so that you will desire it for yourself and everyone you know.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord!” (Meditation on Wisdom 3:1-9, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how a spirituality of ripening allows us to hold greater paradox through an increasing awareness of our union with God. If we are to speak of a spirituality of ripening, we need to recognize that it is always characterized by an increasing tolerance for ambiguity, a growing sense of subtlety, an ever-larger ability to include and allow, and a capacity to live with contradictions and even to love them!

The ripening of mind and heart is most basically a capacity for nondual consciousness and contemplation. Many might just call it a growth in compassion, but surely no growth in compassion is likely unless one learns how to forgive as a very way of life, and to let go of almost everything as we first imagined it had to be. This is possible as our understanding of faith deepens, requiring a careful pairing of not-knowing (the apophatic way) with knowing (the kataphatic way). The Jewish and Christian traditions balanced our so-called knowing with trust, patience, allowing, waiting, humility, love, and forgiveness, which is very nearly the entire message, and surely the core message, necessary for the possibility of ripening. Otherwise, we all close down, and history freezes up with all of its hurts, memories, and resentments intact.

So my guidance after over eighty years of life is a simple reminder to recall what we will be forced to learn by necessity and under pressure anyway—the open-ended way of allowing and the deep meaning that some call faith. To live in trustful faith is to ripen; it is almost that simple. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the help of the Spirit as we commemorate our relationship with our departed family and friends and pray that eternal life be granted to them.

References

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?37 

Meditation on Wisdom 3:1-9. (2026, November 2). The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/11/02/1706121/ 

Meze, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-november-2-2026 

Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Spirituality of Ripening. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-spirituality-of-ripening/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5? 

Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/6 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Every One Who Believes in Him Will Be Raised up at the Last Day. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2026&date=nov2a 

Wisdom, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/3?