Daily Readings - Wed Nov 01 2017

First Reading - Revelation 7.2-4, 9-14

²And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,³Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.⁴And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.⁹After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;¹⁰And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.¹¹And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,¹²Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Second Reading - 1 John 3.1-3

1 John

Chapter 3

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Gospel - Matthew 5.1-12a

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the hope of eternal life and the call to live as children of God. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the heavenly liturgy, where a great multitude from all nations stands before the throne of God, clothed in white robes, praising him for salvation. This vision reminds us that our ultimate destiny is to be united with God in eternal worship, and that this unity transcends every division of nationality, language, or culture. The 144,000 sealed servants of God represent the chosen ones, but the greater crowd that no one could number shows that God’s mercy and salvation extend far beyond any limited understanding. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by emphasizing our identity as children of God. John reminds us that we are already called to be God’s sons and daughters, but our true fulfillment lies in what we shall be when Christ appears. This hope transforms us, urging us to live holy lives, for we are called to be like God who is holy. Our present struggles and imperfections are temporary, for when Christ comes again, we shall see him as he is and share in his glory. In the Gospel, Matthew presents the Beatitudes, which are not just blessings but a blueprint for living as children of God. Jesus teaches that true happiness comes from humility, compassion, and a thirst for justice. Those who are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, and pure in heart are not only blessed but are called to be peacemakers and to endure persecution for the sake of righteousness. These teachings challenge us to reevaluate our values and priorities, to embrace a life of simplicity, forgiveness, and trust in God’s providence. These readings remind us that our lives are not measured by earthly success or comfort but by our fidelity to God’s will and our love for others. As we journey through life’s trials, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on the hope of eternal life, to live with integrity, and to trust that God’s plan will unfold in his time. Let us strive to be among those who wear the white robes of purity, who have endured tribulation, and who now worship God in heaven. May we live each day with the hope of seeing God face to face and with the courage to be his faithful children in a world that often does not know him.