Daily Readings - Thu Nov 01 2018
Revelation
2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?"14I answered, "Sir, you know."
1 John
1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Matthew
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,2and he began to teach them saying:3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who 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.