Daily Readings - Fri Nov 01 2024

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 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.