Daily Readings - Wed Nov 01 2023

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 encounter powerful visions of hope, holiness, and the call to live according to God’s will. The first reading from Revelation presents a dramatic vision of the end times, where the faithful are sealed and protected by God, and a great multitude worships before the throne, clothed in white robes. This scene reminds us that, despite the trials and tribulations of this world, God’s people will ultimately find salvation and eternal joy in his presence. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes the profound love of the Father, who has called us to be his children. It invites us to live with hope, knowing that we will one day see God as he is and be like him, provided we strive for holiness in our lives. The Gospel, the Beatitudes from Matthew, offers Jesus’ teachings on the qualities of those who are truly blessed: the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and those who hunger for justice. These are not the values of the world, but they are the path to true happiness and fulfillment in God’s kingdom. The readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the transformative power of living as children of God. Revelation gives us a glimpse of the ultimate triumph of God’s plan, while 1 John reminds us of our identity as God’s beloved children, called to holiness. The Beatitudes, in turn, provide practical guidance on how to live out this identity in our daily lives. Together, they invite us to embrace a life shaped by hope, humility, and love. In a world often dominated by power, wealth, and self-interest, these readings challenge us to reorient our values and priorities. They call us to trust in God’s plan, to seek holiness, and to embody the virtues that reflect the heart of Christ. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How are we living as children of God? Are we striving for holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions? Are we embracing the Beatitudes as a way of life, even when it is difficult? Let us take hope in the vision of Revelation, knowing that our perseverance will one day lead us to eternal joy. Let us allow the love of the Father to transform us, making us more like him. And let us commit to living out the Beatitudes, trusting that in doing so, we will find true happiness and fulfillment. May we be peacemakers, merciful, and pure in heart, for in these ways, we will not only reflect the love of God but also inherit the kingdom he has prepared for us.