Daily Readings - Sun Nov 01 2020
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 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.