Daily Readings - Fri Nov 01 2019

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

Chapter 3

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

Chapter 5

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 presented with a powerful vision of hope and transformation. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the heavenly multitude, clothed in white, worshiping before the throne of God. This vision is a reminder of the ultimate destiny of the faithful, who have endured tribulation and emerged victorious through the blood of the Lamb. The second reading from 1 John deepens this hope, reminding us that we are already children of God, though what we will become is still unfolding. This truth calls us to live in a way that reflects God's holiness, as we await the full revelation of His plan for us. The Gospel from Matthew, known as the Beatitudes, provides the ethical framework for living as children of God. Jesus teaches that true blessedness is found in humility, mercy, and a hunger for justice, even in the face of persecution. These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the transformative power of God's love and the hope of eternal life. Revelation gives us a glimpse of the end, where the faithful are gathered before God's throne, while 1 John emphasizes the present reality of being God's children. The Beatitudes, in turn, show us how to live in the here and now, embodying the virtues that reflect God's kingdom. Together, they remind us that our ultimate hope is not in this world but in the eternal life promised by God. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How are we living as children of God in our daily lives? Are we striving to be poor in spirit, merciful, and peacemakers? The Beatitudes challenge us to embrace a way of life that is counter to the values of the world. They call us to trust in God's plan, even when it is difficult, and to seek His justice and mercy. Let us also remember that our struggles and persecutions are not in vain, for they are part of the journey that leads us to eternal life. May we live with hope, trusting in God's promise, and may we strive to be holy, as He is holy.