Daily Readings - Mon Nov 01 2021

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

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.