Daily Readings - Thu Nov 01 2018

Revelation

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.

1 John

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.

Matthew

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 profound themes of hope, identity, and living a virtuous life. The First Reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of God's ultimate triumph, where His servants are sealed and a great multitude worships before the throne, clothed in white robes. This apocalyptic vision offers hope to believers, especially those facing persecution, assuring them of their eternal destiny. The Second Reading from 1 John emphasizes our divine identity as children of God and the future promise of becoming like Him, encouraging us to live holy lives in anticipation of His return. The Gospel from Matthew presents the Beatitudes, where Jesus outlines the qualities of those who are blessed, such as being poor in spirit, meek, and merciful, highlighting the values of the kingdom of heaven. These readings are interconnected, each illuminating different facets of the Christian journey. Revelation provides the ultimate hope of eternal life with God, while 1 John bridges this hope with our present identity as His children. The Beatitudes, in turn, guide us on how to live out this identity in our daily lives, embodying the virtues that reflect God's kingdom. Together, they remind us that our current struggles are temporary and that our true citizenship is in heaven. Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace our identity as God's children, living with hope and trust in His plan. We should strive to embody the Beatitudes, allowing our actions to be guided by mercy, humility, and a thirst for justice. In doing so, we not only reflect God's love but also become beacons of hope in a world that often seems dark. The moral lesson is clear: our hope in eternal life with God should inspire us to live virtuously now, trusting that our perseverance will be rewarded. Let us, therefore, walk in the light of this hope, living as children of God and striving to see His kingdom realized on earth.