Reflection for Sunday – November 2, 2025

Christine Nowak KvamSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Wisdom 3: 1-9; Romans 5: 5-11; John 6: 37-40 
Preacher: Christine Kvam Nowak

Although it’s not particularly catchy or vibrant, the hymn “The Kingdom of God” does a great job of putting the essence of this weekend’s feasts into a few short phrases.  Listen to these simple yet profound lines from verse 2: “The kingdom of God is mercy and grace. The captives are freed, the sinners find place. The outcast are welcomed, God’s banquet to share; and hope is awakened in place of despair.”  These lyrics and today’s readings point to three truths of our faith that provide deep comfort and much-needed hope in difficult times—particularly times of grief and loss: God is characterized by mercy; God’s mercy is boundless; and despair is temporary.


Similar to the opening words of the verse above, the refrain of today’s beloved Psalm reminds us of God’s mercy—“The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”  Psalm 23 paints a picture of a God who gently leads us along the right path to refreshment and rest—giving us courage, peace, and blessings along the way.  In many cases, the Saints and souls we celebrate this weekend were living examples of this tender mercy of God.  How many of us are remembering today a grandmother or mother who were like the Psalmist’s shepherd God?  In preparing countless meals to nourish us, passing on to us the values of our faith, comforting us when the road got hard, and helping us to feel safe and loved no matter what, these holy souls embodied God’s mercy.


While these examples of maternal love are indeed praiseworthy, God’s mercy is even greater.  Going far beyond the typical pattern of familial love, God’s mercy extends to all. In today’s Gospel Jesus demonstrated his embrace of God’s boundless mercy by proclaiming, “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”  And because of the stories throughout the Gospels, we know that Jesus put his words into action as he showed special care to the outcasts.  Many of the Saints we honor this weekend were canonized at least in part for the way they followed Jesus’ example in showing love and mercy to those on the margins. One of our Church’s newest Saints, José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, canonized by Pope Leo just 2 weeks ago is a beautiful example of this limitless mercy.  He was known as “the people’s doctor” because of his care for poor Venezuelans.  Jesus, St. José, and many other holy men and women remind us that God’s mercy is generously offered not just to the “deserving,” but to everyone.


It is because of the boundless mercy of God that we can move beyond despair and into hope during times of loss.  Although the end of earthly life brings pain and grief, our faith in God’s loving care enables us to trust in the words of the first reading—that there is eternal peace and rest “in the hand of God” when this life is done.  Both the officially recognized miracles of the Saints and the more subtle personal reassurances of the continued presence of our departed loved ones are confirmation that they are abiding with God in love.  When a ray of light penetrates the darkness of grief, when joy bubbles up out of sorrow, when hope overcomes despair, we have evidence of that beautiful image from today’s first reading, “they shall shine and shall dart about as sparks through stubble.”  This is the essence of Christian hope and, as the second reading declares, “Hope does not disappoint.”


After describing so beautifully the welcome of all Saints and souls in God’s kingdom in verse two, the final verse of “The Kingdom of God” gives us our marching orders: “God’s kingdom is come, the gift and the goal.  In Jesus begun, in heaven made whole.  The heirs of the kingdom shall answer his call; and all things cry ‘Glory!’ to God all in all.”  Following the footsteps of the Saints and holy souls who have gone before us, we must do our part to contribute to the coming of God’s kingdom by continuing the work of Jesus.  We must answer his call to discipleship and allow God’s boundless mercy to penetrate our hearts so fully that it spills out as we share that mercy with others.  And we should do so with hope and joyful praise because we trust that peace in God’s presence awaits us when we join the Saints and all souls in the joy of eternal life.

Christine Nowak Kvam
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