Daily Readings - Sun Nov 01 2020
Revelation
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
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
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 encounter powerful visions of hope and reflections on our identity as children of God. The Book of Revelation presents a glorious scene of the sealed multitude standing before the throne, clothed in white robes, praising God. This vision, written in a time of persecution, offers comfort to believers, assuring them that their trials are not in vain and that their ultimate destiny is to stand before God in joy and worship. The First Letter of John reminds us of our divine adoption, calling us children of God, and invites us to live with the hope of one day seeing God as He truly is. This hope, John tells us, compels us to live holy lives, for we are called to reflect the purity of God.
The Gospel from Matthew takes us to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus proclaims the Beatitudes. These blessings reveal the countercultural values of God’s kingdom: poverty of spirit, meekness, mercy, and peacemaking. Jesus teaches us that true happiness and fulfillment come not from worldly success but from living in harmony with God’s will. These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the transformative power of living as children of God. Revelation shows us the ultimate triumph of God’s people, John emphasizes our identity and vocation as God’s children, and Matthew provides the practical path of living out that identity in love and holiness.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How are we living as children of God in our daily lives? Are we cultivating the Beatitudes—being merciful, pure of heart, and peacemakers? The readings invite us to trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems uncertain. Let us embrace the hope that comes from knowing we are destined for eternal life with God. May we strive to live in a way that reflects our dignity as God’s children, and may we find joy in following the path that Jesus has laid out for us. In doing so, we will not only experience the peace of God in our hearts but also become instruments of His peace in the world.