Daily Readings - Fri Nov 01 2019

²Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,³saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."⁴And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:⁹After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,¹⁰and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"¹¹And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,¹²saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"¹⁴I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

1 John

Chapter 3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.²Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.³And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.²And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.⁴"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.⁵"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.⁶"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.⁷"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.⁸"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.⁹"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.¹⁰"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.¹¹"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are presented with a powerful vision of hope and transformation. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the heavenly multitude, clothed in white, worshiping before the throne of God. This vision is a reminder of the ultimate destiny of the faithful, who have endured tribulation and emerged victorious through the blood of the Lamb. The second reading from 1 John deepens this hope, reminding us that we are already children of God, though what we will become is still unfolding. This truth calls us to live in a way that reflects God's holiness, as we await the full revelation of His plan for us. The Gospel from Matthew, known as the Beatitudes, provides the ethical framework for living as children of God. Jesus teaches that true blessedness is found in humility, mercy, and a hunger for justice, even in the face of persecution. These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the transformative power of God's love and the hope of eternal life. Revelation gives us a glimpse of the end, where the faithful are gathered before God's throne, while 1 John emphasizes the present reality of being God's children. The Beatitudes, in turn, show us how to live in the here and now, embodying the virtues that reflect God's kingdom. Together, they remind us that our ultimate hope is not in this world but in the eternal life promised by God. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How are we living as children of God in our daily lives? Are we striving to be poor in spirit, merciful, and peacemakers? The Beatitudes challenge us to embrace a way of life that is counter to the values of the world. They call us to trust in God's plan, even when it is difficult, and to seek His justice and mercy. Let us also remember that our struggles and persecutions are not in vain, for they are part of the journey that leads us to eternal life. May we live with hope, trusting in God's promise, and may we strive to be holy, as He is holy.