Faith Daily Lectio Sunday, November 1, 2026 Gospel
Sunday, November 1, 2026 · All Saints' Day
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Lord Jesus, You came to Jerusalem meek and lowly, to save Your people. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read Matthew 21 on this All Saints' Day, that I may welcome You as my King and join all Your saints in their Hosanna. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 21:1-22
1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9)
What other lines speak to you?
Jesus sends two disciples for an ass and her colt, and the prophet's word is fulfilled. He rides into Jerusalem while the crowds spread their garments and branches in the way and cry Hosanna. He enters the temple, casts out the buyers and sellers, and heals the blind and the lame. When the chief priests are displeased at the children's praise, He answers from the Psalms. The next morning He finds a fig tree with leaves but no fruit, and it withers. He tells the disciples that faith which does not doubt will see God's power, and that whatever they ask in prayer, believing, they will receive.
The Law The same city that cries "Hosanna" will soon cry for His death. In the temple Jesus finds trade where there should be prayer, and He says, "ye have made it a den of thieves" (v. 13). At the fig tree He "found nothing thereon, but leaves only" (v. 19). We, too, can show leaves without fruit, honoring God with our lips while our hearts are elsewhere.
The Gospel Still the King comes: "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass" (v. 5). He does not come to crush but to save, and He rides on toward the cross for you. Then "the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them" (v. 14). On All Saints' Day we remember that the saints are sinners He has healed and washed. With them we sing, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (v. 9), as the Church still sings when He comes to us in His Supper.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I confess that my praise has often been leaves without fruit. Forgive me. Cleanse my heart as You cleansed Your temple, and make me a house of prayer. With all Your saints I bless You, my King. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Prayer can feel like speaking into the air when the mountains do not move. Jesus promises, "all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (v. 22). Under trial it may help to remember that this faith rests on Him, not on the strength of our asking. The saints who have gone before us prayed through hard days too, and now they rest in Him.
Prayer Lord, when my faith is weak and my prayers feel small, hold me fast. Teach me to ask, believing, and keep me in the company of all Your saints. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
