Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Wednesday November 4, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
- First Reading – Philippians 2:12-18: Continue to work towards your salvation with dedication. Do so without complaint, being blameless amidst a flawed world, and rejoice in the faith, as I rejoice with you.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 27: With the LORD as my light and protector, I have no fear and seek to live in His presence forever, trusting that I will witness His goodness in life.
- Gospel – Luke 14:25-33: Jesus explains the commitment required to be His follower. He uses strong language to stress the priority of loyalty to Him over family ties. Jesus also highlights the need for personal sacrifice. He uses two examples—a builder calculating costs and a king contemplating war—to illustrate the importance of planning and readiness to give up everything to be His disciple.
If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26
Themes for the Readings for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Here are some key themes for reflection on Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2. The readings focus on the challenges and sacrifices of following Christ, as well as the call to live with purpose and joy in our faith. They remind us to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, even when it requires difficult choices.
- Working Out Salvation: Paul speaks of working out our salvation with commitment. This means living our faith daily and making choices that bring us closer to God.
- Living Without Complaining: Paul urges believers to live without grumbling. This shows how our actions can be a light to others, reflecting the love and patience of Christ.
- Sacrifice and Discipleship: Jesus teaches that being His disciple requires sacrifice. Following Christ may mean setting aside personal interests to prioritize God’s will.
- Counting the Cost: Jesus emphasizes the need to count the cost before following Him. This teaches us to consider the commitment and challenges that come with living a Christian life.
- Shining Like Lights: Paul encourages believers to shine like lights in the world. This reminds us that our joy and faith are a witness to others, calling them to see God’s presence in their own lives.
- Offering Ourselves in Joy: Paul speaks of offering his life with joy, regardless of hardships. This invites us to find joy in serving God, trusting that He will use our efforts for good.
- Leaving All to Follow Christ: Jesus describes the commitment of leaving everything behind for His sake. This encourages us to let go of attachments that may keep us from fully following Him.
The themes from Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 guide us to live with purpose, gratitude, and joy in Christ. They challenge us to stay faithful even when our path requires sacrifice and perseverance.
Thoughts for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
On Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we are called to reflect on themes of joy, commitment, and surrender in our faith journey. Both the readings from Philippians and Luke encourage us to live with patience, joy, and discipline as we follow Christ. Each reflection invites us to look closely at our daily actions and decisions, helping us see how we can better shine as lights in the world and live fully for God’s kingdom.
Living Without Grumbling and Shining with Joy
On Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Paul reminds believers that our attitudes matter. Living without grumbling may sound small, but it has a large impact on those around us. When we choose to avoid complaints and bitterness, we open our lives as a reflection of Christ’s patience and kindness. This doesn’t mean ignoring struggles, but rather approaching them with trust in God’s strength.
Paul also encourages us to “shine like lights” in a world that often seems dark. Our positive actions, rooted in faith, can be a beacon to those who need hope. This small but daily commitment to joy helps others see that God’s love is real, working through our lives. Each act of patience or kindness reveals God’s presence, becoming a way to invite others to faith.
Our faithfulness and joy, even in small matters, invite others to see God. By sharing a joyful heart, we can reach people in simple ways, helping them understand that God is close and cares deeply for each of us.
Letting Go of All for Jesus’ Sake
In the Gospel reading for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Jesus speaks of letting go of anything that prevents us from fully following Him. He calls us to be free of attachments that may take us away from God’s plan for our lives. Sometimes we cling to material things, certain habits, or even our own plans, which can keep us from committing ourselves to the path Christ invites us to walk.
Jesus challenges us to examine what might be holding us back. He is not saying that we must abandon everything, but rather that nothing should matter more to us than God’s will. This can mean reassessing our priorities, learning to trust, and sometimes choosing paths that may look different from our initial plans.
Letting go allows us to experience God’s freedom and purpose more deeply. When we free ourselves from attachments, we are able to trust that God has a plan for our lives that is better than we could imagine. It takes courage and faith to release our grip, but with Christ as our guide, we find peace and fulfillment in the journey.
Committing to a Life of Faith and Discipline
Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 reminds us that discipleship requires commitment and discipline. Paul’s call to live with perseverance and joy, even in difficulties, echoes Jesus’ teaching on counting the cost before choosing to follow Him. Faith is not a passive path; it calls for daily choices that sometimes ask for sacrifice, patience, and trust in God’s way over our own.
Jesus uses examples of a builder counting costs and a king preparing for battle to illustrate this need for dedication. Faith is a journey that takes careful thought, endurance, and readiness to give ourselves completely. Discipleship is not easy, but the rewards of growing closer to God make each step worthwhile.
Committing to God’s path helps us become more focused, more intentional, and more joyful in our lives. As we make choices each day that reflect our faith, we become witnesses to God’s love and strength. Embracing the discipline of discipleship helps us live fully and faithfully, bringing us closer to Christ and making our lives a source of inspiration to others.
Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 offers a meaningful invitation to deepen our commitment to Christ, examine what holds us back, and embrace our role as joyful witnesses to God’s love. As we continue our journey, may we seek ways to let go of obstacles and serve God and others with a faithful heart, confident that God will guide us along the way.
Prayer
Lord, help me follow You with a joyful heart and a willing spirit. Guide me to let go of anything that holds me back from fully living my faith. May my words and actions be a light to others, showing Your love and peace in all I do. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- What small actions can I take to live with more patience and joy in my daily life?
- Are there any attachments or distractions keeping me from fully following Jesus?
- How can I be a better witness to others, sharing my faith through my words and actions?
- In what ways can I practice greater commitment and discipline in my spiritual life?
Homilies and Reflections for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Word on Fire: Loving God Above All Else
In his reflection for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Bishop Robert Barron explains Jesus’ strong call to detachment. Jesus says that to be His disciple, one must “hate” even family members if they take priority over God. Bishop Barron clarifies that Jesus uses this extreme language to emphasize that God must come first in all things. We are to love God fully, and then love others in relation to Him. When we allow anything else to take God’s place, we stray from our true purpose. Jesus calls us to center our lives around loving God above all.
Dynamic Catholic: The Cost of Discipleship
In his reflection for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Matthew Kelly from Dynamic Catholic highlights Jesus’ call to “take up your cross” as the heart of true discipleship. In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus speaks about the cost of following Him, stressing that one must bear personal sacrifice to be His disciple. Kelly encourages readers to reflect on how they carry their own crosses—whether with resentment or with love. He invites us to consider our daily burdens and challenges, urging us to carry them generously and lovingly as an essential part of living out our faith.
Order of Preachers: All for Jesus
In her reflection for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Sr. Mary Jeremiah Gillett encourages us to look beyond material things and deepen our awareness of God’s presence. Using Jesus’ teachings, she reflects on the need to renounce worldly attachments to follow Him fully. She explains that true peace and joy come not from material success but from remembering God’s constant presence within us. By focusing more on God and less on possessions, we align ourselves with His will and experience lasting contentment, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love if we stay close to Him.
USCCB Reflection: Choosing God Above All Else
In a USCCB video reflection for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Dr. Jem Sullivan explains Jesus’ call to “renounce all possessions” to be His disciple. She notes that this call invites us to put God, not ourselves, at the center of life. Dr. Sullivan connects this teaching to Paul’s words, urging us to “hold on to the Word of Life.” True discipleship means reordering our hearts, focusing on God above all else. Though challenging, this journey brings freedom, joy, and peace, with Jesus supporting us as we carry our daily crosses toward deeper love and faith.
Word on Fire: Embracing the Cross in True Discipleship
In this reflection for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Bishop Robert Barron speaks about Jesus’ call to take up our own crosses. Bishop Barron explains that true discipleship goes beyond moral improvement—it’s a complete change in perspective, shifting away from self-centeredness to a life of love and sacrifice. Jesus’ command to carry the cross would have shocked his original listeners, who knew the cross as a symbol of suffering and shame. For Christians, embracing the cross means choosing love, forgiveness, and nonviolence, following Christ’s example of self-giving love even through hardship and pain.
Questions and Answers for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
What date is Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The next date is Wednesday November 4, 2026.
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
What are the Mass readings for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The Mass readings for Wednesday November 4, 2026 are:
First Reading – Philippians 2:12-18: Guidance for Salvation
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 27: Confident in the Lord
Gospel – Luke 14:25-33: The Cost of Discipleship
What does “working out our salvation” mean in the first reading for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
Paul encourages believers to live their faith with dedication. This means making choices each day that reflect our commitment to God, seeking to grow closer to Him through our actions.
Why does Paul mention not complaining?
Paul’s call to avoid grumbling shows us how our words and attitudes matter. Living without complaints helps us be a positive example to others and allows us to focus on God’s blessings.
How can we “shine like lights” in the world?
Paul says that believers should live in a way that shows God’s love to others. This message reminds us to act with kindness, joy, and patience so that others may see God’s goodness through us.
Why is joy mentioned in times of sacrifice?
Paul speaks of joy even when facing challenges, showing that faith can bring peace despite hardships. When we live in service to God, He fills us with joy that helps us persevere.
Why does Jesus talk about “counting the cost” of discipleship in the Gospel for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
Jesus explains that following Him requires serious commitment. He teaches that being His disciple is a big decision, asking us to be ready for challenges that may come from choosing His way.
What does it mean to “leave everything” for Christ?
Jesus speaks about letting go of things that keep us from fully following Him. We must remove any distractions or attachments that take priority over our relationship with God.
What does Jesus mean by taking up our cross to follow Him?
Taking up our cross means being willing to face difficulties for the sake of faith. Following Jesus may mean personal sacrifice, but it helps us grow spiritually and strengthens our trust in God.
How can these readings change our daily choices?
Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 encourages us to prioritize our faith and remove obstacles that hold us back. Choosing God first and serving others with joy allows us to live as faithful disciples of Christ.
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