Daily Readings - Tue Nov 01 2022

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

In today's readings, we journey through themes of hope, holiness, and living a virtuous life. The Book of Revelation presents a vision of the sealed faithful and a diverse crowd worshipping God, symbolizing the ultimate unity and salvation of all people. This apocalyptic text offers hope to persecuted Christians, assuring them of their eternal destiny. The First Epistle of John emphasizes our identity as God's children, urging us to live holy lives as we await Christ's return. The Gospel from Matthew, known as the Beatitudes, outlines the characteristics of those blessed by God, such as humility, mercy, and peacemaking, which guide us in living according to Kingdom values. These readings are interconnected, each highlighting different aspects of the Christian life. Revelation shows the end goal of our faith—a heavenly reality where all nations unite in worship. 1 John bridges the present and future, encouraging believers to embrace their identity as God's children and strive for holiness. The Beatitudes provide practical ethics for living out this identity, emphasizing virtues that reflect God's character. Together, they remind us that our faith is both a present reality and a future hope. Applying these teachings to daily life, we are called to live with hope, knowing our ultimate destiny is with God. Embracing the Beatitudes' virtues helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and compassion. As children of God, we should strive for holiness, reflecting His love and justice. Let us embrace our identity, live with hope, and embody the virtues that bring us closer to God, transforming our lives and the world around us.