Daily Readings - Tue Nov 01 2022
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 journey through themes of hope, holiness, and living a virtuous life. The Book of Revelation presents a vision of the sealed faithful and a diverse crowd worshipping God, symbolizing the ultimate unity and salvation of all people. This apocalyptic text offers hope to persecuted Christians, assuring them of their eternal destiny. The First Epistle of John emphasizes our identity as God's children, urging us to live holy lives as we await Christ's return. The Gospel from Matthew, known as the Beatitudes, outlines the characteristics of those blessed by God, such as humility, mercy, and peacemaking, which guide us in living according to Kingdom values.
These readings are interconnected, each highlighting different aspects of the Christian life. Revelation shows the end goal of our faith—a heavenly reality where all nations unite in worship. 1 John bridges the present and future, encouraging believers to embrace their identity as God's children and strive for holiness. The Beatitudes provide practical ethics for living out this identity, emphasizing virtues that reflect God's character. Together, they remind us that our faith is both a present reality and a future hope.
Applying these teachings to daily life, we are called to live with hope, knowing our ultimate destiny is with God. Embracing the Beatitudes' virtues helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and compassion. As children of God, we should strive for holiness, reflecting His love and justice. Let us embrace our identity, live with hope, and embody the virtues that bring us closer to God, transforming our lives and the world around us.