Daily Readings - Wed Nov 01 2023

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 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.