Daily Readings - Wed Nov 01 2023
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 encounter powerful visions of hope, holiness, and the call to live according to God’s will. The first reading from Revelation presents a dramatic vision of the end times, where the faithful are sealed and protected by God, and a great multitude worships before the throne, clothed in white robes. This scene reminds us that, despite the trials and tribulations of this world, God’s people will ultimately find salvation and eternal joy in his presence. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes the profound love of the Father, who has called us to be his children. It invites us to live with hope, knowing that we will one day see God as he is and be like him, provided we strive for holiness in our lives. The Gospel, the Beatitudes from Matthew, offers Jesus’ teachings on the qualities of those who are truly blessed: the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and those who hunger for justice. These are not the values of the world, but they are the path to true happiness and fulfillment in God’s kingdom.
The readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the transformative power of living as children of God. Revelation gives us a glimpse of the ultimate triumph of God’s plan, while 1 John reminds us of our identity as God’s beloved children, called to holiness. The Beatitudes, in turn, provide practical guidance on how to live out this identity in our daily lives. Together, they invite us to embrace a life shaped by hope, humility, and love. In a world often dominated by power, wealth, and self-interest, these readings challenge us to reorient our values and priorities. They call us to trust in God’s plan, to seek holiness, and to embody the virtues that reflect the heart of Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How are we living as children of God? Are we striving for holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions? Are we embracing the Beatitudes as a way of life, even when it is difficult? Let us take hope in the vision of Revelation, knowing that our perseverance will one day lead us to eternal joy. Let us allow the love of the Father to transform us, making us more like him. And let us commit to living out the Beatitudes, trusting that in doing so, we will find true happiness and fulfillment. May we be peacemakers, merciful, and pure in heart, for in these ways, we will not only reflect the love of God but also inherit the kingdom he has prepared for us.