Daily Reading for Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Reading 1, Wis 3:1-9

¹ But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them.

² To the unenlightened, they appeared to die, their departure was regarded as disaster,

³ their leaving us like annihilation; but they are at peace.

⁴ If, as it seemed to us, they suffered punishment, their hope was rich with immortality;

⁵ slight was their correction, great will their blessings be. God was putting them to the test and has proved them worthy to be with him;

⁶ he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a perfect burnt offering.

⁷ At their time of visitation, they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.

⁸ They will judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever.

⁹ Those who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await his holy ones, and he intervenes on behalf of his chosen.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 103:8, 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18

⁸ Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger and rich in faithful love;

¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor repay us as befits our offences.

¹³ As tenderly as a father treats his children, so Yahweh treats those who fear him;

¹⁴ he knows of what we are made, he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for a human person -- his days are like grass, he blooms like the wild flowers;

¹⁶ as soon as the wind blows he is gone, never to be seen there again.

¹⁷ But Yahweh's faithful love for those who fear him is from eternity and for ever; and his saving justice to their children's children;

¹⁸ as long as they keep his covenant, and carefully obey his precepts.