Daily Readings - Mon Nov 01 2021

²And I saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the Seal of the living God. And he cried out, in a great voice, to the four Angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea³saying: "Do no harm to the earth, nor to the sea, nor to the trees, until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.⁴And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁰And they cried out, with a great voice, saying: "Salvation is from our God, who sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb.¹¹And all the Angels were standing around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell upon their faces in view of the throne, and they worshipped God¹²saying: "Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and strength to our God, forever and ever. Amen.¹³And one of the elders responded and said to me: "These ones who are clothed in white robes, who are they? And where did they come from?¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb

1 John

Chapter 3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we would be called, and would become, the sons of God. Because of this, the world does not know us, for it did not know him²Most beloved, we are now the sons of God. But what we shall be then has not yet appeared. We know that when he does appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is³And everyone who holds this hope in him, keeps himself holy, just as he also is holy

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him²and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven⁴Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth⁵Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God¹⁰Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven¹¹Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake¹²be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you

Sermon

The readings today offer us a vision of hope, unity, and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. In the first reading from Revelation, we are shown a glimpse of the heavenly multitude—144,000 sealed servants of God from every tribe of Israel and a countless number from all nations, tribes, and languages. This vision emphasizes that God’s salvation is universal, extending to all people, and that His plan includes the redemption of the entire world. The white robes and palm branches symbolize purity and victory, while the worship of the Lamb underscores the central role of Christ in God’s plan of salvation. The reading reminds us that, despite the trials and tribulations of this world, there is a future where all of God’s people will stand together in worship and adoration. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by reminding us of our identity as children of God. John writes that we are already called the sons and daughters of God, but our truest form is yet to be revealed. When Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. This hope calls us to live holy lives, striving to imitate Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. John’s words encourage us to look beyond the present moment, knowing that our ultimate fulfillment lies in union with God. This hope is not passive; it is a call to action, urging us to live in a way that reflects our divine adoption. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us the Beatitudes, which are the characteristics of those who live as children of God. The poor in spirit, the meek, the mournful, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and those who endure persecution for justice—these are the ones who will inherit the kingdom of heaven. The Beatitudes are not just moral guidelines; they are a way of life that reflects the heart of God. They call us to humility, compassion, and a willingness to suffer for what is right. Jesus’ words challenge us to reevaluate our priorities and to seek holiness in the midst of a world that often values the opposite. Today’s readings remind us that we are called to live as children of God, trusting in His plan and striving to reflect His love and holiness in our lives. The vision of Revelation, the hope expressed in 1 John, and the Beatitudes all point us to the same truth: our ultimate destiny is union with God, and our lives should be shaped by this hope. Let us embrace the call to live as God’s children, trusting in His promise and striving to be holy, even as He is holy.