Daily Readings - Fri Nov 01 2024

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

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.

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 presented with a vision of hope, unity, and the call to live virtuous lives. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the heavenly realm, where a great multitude from all nations stands before the throne of God, clothed in white robes, worshipping Him. This vision underscores the ultimate hope of salvation and the unity of all peoples in God’s presence. The second reading from 1 John reminds us of the profound love of the Father, who has called us to be His children. It also encourages us to live holy lives, as we await the full revelation of Christ’s glory. The Gospel from Matthew, known as the Beatitudes, teaches us the qualities of those who are blessed: the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and those who hunger for justice. Jesus calls us to embrace these virtues, even in the face of persecution, promising us a great reward in heaven. The readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the ultimate hope of eternal life with God and the call to live in a way that reflects His love and justice. Revelation shows us the final destination of the faithful, while 1 John emphasizes our identity as God’s children and the call to holiness. The Beatitudes, in turn, provide practical guidance on how to live out this holiness in our daily lives. Together, these readings remind us that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and our lives on earth should reflect the values of the kingdom of God. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living as children of God, striving for holiness? Are we embracing the virtues of the Beatitudes, even when it is challenging? Let us find hope in the vision of Revelation, knowing that our perseverance in faith and virtue will one day bring us to the throne of God. Let us also remember that we are called to be peacemakers and to bring God’s love and justice into the world. May we be inspired by these readings to live with hope, to walk in holiness, and to trust in God’s promise of eternal life.