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Ordinary Time · All Souls: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed · Year B

Matthew 11:25-30 or 25:31-46 or Luke 7:11-17 or 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a or 24:13-16, 28-35 or John 5:24-29 or 6:37-40, 6:51-59 or 11:17-27, 11:32-45 or 14:1-6

Come to Me and Find Rest

November 2, 2027

Christ the Consolator, Carl Bloch
Christ the Consolator, Carl Bloch, 1875Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle
Christ with arms open at the centre and the sick, the grieving and the imprisoned gathered at his feet, each worked out as an individual case rather than a type.Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened: the painting is a list of the people that sentence is addressed to.Carl BlochA Danish painter (1834-1890) whose cycle of the life of Christ for Frederiksborg Castle became, through reproduction, among the most widely seen religious images of the modern era.Museum of National History, Frederiksborg CastleA Danish national portrait and history museum in a royal castle, rebuilt after a fire with Carlsberg money.Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:1-12aMt 5:1-12aAlt. GospelMatt. 11:25-30Mt 11:25-30 or25:31-46 orLuke 7:11-17Lk 7:11-17 or23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a or24:13-16, 28-35 orJohn 5:24-29Jn 5:24-29 or6:37-40, 6:51-59 or11:17-27, 11:32-45 or14:1-6
Second ReadingRom. 5:5-11Rom 5:5-11 or5:17-21Alt. 2nd ReadingRom. 6:3-9Rom 6:3-9 or8:14-23 or8:31b-35, 37-39 or14:7-9, 10c-12 or1 Cor. 15:20-281 Cor 15:20-28 or15:51-57 or2 Cor. 4:14-5:12 Cor 4:14-5:1 or5:1, 6-10 orPhil. 3:20-21Phil 3:20-21 or1 Thess. 4:13-181 Thes 4:13-18 or2 Tim. 2:8-132 Tm 2:8-13
First ReadingWis. 3:1-9Wis 3:1-9 or4:7-15Alt. 1st ReadingIsa. 25:6-9Is 25:6-9
Responsorial PsalmPs. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6Alt. PsalmPs. 25:6, 7b, 17-18, 20-21Ps 25:6, 7b, 17-18, 20-21 or27:1, 4, 7, 8b, 9a, 13-14

Overview & Insights

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

The Gospel may be chosen from a long list, and Matthew 11:25-30, the first named, arrives at the end of a chapter about refusal: John’s question from prison (11:2-6) and the towns that did not repent (11:20-24). The unit has three parts, a thanksgiving that revelation went to infants rather than to the wise (vv. 25-26), a saying about the mutual knowledge of Father and Son so unlike its Synoptic surroundings that it is commonly called the Johannine logion (v. 27), and an invitation found in no other Gospel (vv. 28-30). The invitation speaks in Wisdom’s voice: Sirach 51:23-27 summons the unlearned to her school, offers her yoke and promises rest, and here the yoke offered is Jesus’ own. The phrase “rest for your souls” (v. 29) is taken from Jeremiah 6:16, where the same rest lies along the ancient paths and is refused.

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Take it further: Matthew 11:25-30 or 25:31-46 or Luke 7:11-17 or 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a or 24:13-16, 28-35 or John 5:24-29 or 6:37-40, 6:51-59 or 11:17-27, 11:32-45 or 14:1-6

Commentary

Commentary on John 11:1-45Commentary on Jn 11:1-45 workingpreacher.org

The one Lutheran voice, on the John 11 Lazarus option, the classic funeral Gospel among the alternatives.

John 11 (Haydock Commentary)Jn 11 (Haydock Commentary) haydockcommentary.com

Catholic Haydock notes on the raising of Lazarus.

John 11 Commentary: Life to Bethany and to the WorldJn 11 Commentary: Life to Bethany and to the World enduringword.com

Full evangelical commentary on the Lazarus narrative.

John 11:1-45 CommentaryJn 11:1-45 Commentary cepreaching.org

Reformed preaching commentary specifically on this Gospel text.

Background & Word Study

John 11:25 InterlinearJn 11:25 Interlinear biblehub.com

Greek text of 'I am the resurrection and the life,' the theological center of the option.

Commentary on John 11 (Matthew Henry)Commentary on Jn 11 (Mt Henry) blueletterbible.org

A second classic word-by-word exposition of the raising of Lazarus.

The Church Fathers

John 11 (Catena)Jn 11 (Catena) catenabible.com

Patristic comment keyed to the verse where Jesus arrives at Bethany.

Sermons & Reflections

John 11 CommentaryJn 11 Commentary preceptaustin.org

Verse-by-verse devotional word study on the chapter.

John 11:1-45: Neither Bang Nor WhimperJn 11:1-45: Neither Bang Nor Whimper cepreaching.org

A full written sermon built on this Gospel option.

Worship & Prayers

Lent 5 (A) sermons episcopalchurch.org

Anglican preaching resources tied to the Sunday this Gospel option is usually read.

Study Hub

John 11Jn 11 biblehub.com

Aggregator chapter page for further commentary on the passage.

John 11 (Matthew Henry Complete)Jn 11 (Mt Henry Complete) biblestudytools.com

Classic exposition of the chapter for further reference.

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