Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 01, 2024
All Saints Day
01st November 2024 (Friday)
Psalter: Proper
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
I, John, saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)
R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord.
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Beloved: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 5:1-12a
At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Friday – All Saints Day
Guidelines: Small efforts count to encounter God’s grace. When there is an encounter between God’s grace and human reception, miracles happen
1. What a celestial joy it is to celebrate the solemn festivity of all saints! Explicitly on this one day, we are united with the whole band of saints. We are reminded of our bond and communion with them. Through them, we are reminded of our destiny as well, that is, to be with them in heaven.
2. All saints remind us of our own call like theirs – called to holiness. Holiness is our call and sanctification is God’s will for us. Holiness is not a privilege, reserved only to some. It is grace and gracious possibility laid open to all.
3. But it is not a gift by chance. It should not be a gift, taken for granted and left unmerited. God does not create readymade saints. There are no predetermined, predestined saints. One becomes a saint by living. Thus, saintliness on one hand is a gratuitous gift of God and on the other hand, is an assiduous task.
4. It is a bounden duty of everyone to strive for sanctity. God has destined us “to be holy and blameless” in His sight for eternity. These saints encourage us that it is possible to become saints, despite our weaknesses and pressures. They inspire us to become like them, in patience and perseverance. They challenge us to guard and fight against all forces that are unholy.
5.Beatitudes lay open before us the “golden path” of holiness that leads to blessedness. Clearly, they are stark contradictions to the standards and ways of the world. The beatitudes exalt and advocate
- “poverty” – humility, detachment, moderation, and contentment, against all greed and accumulation;
- “mourning” – being sensitive, attentive, tender, empathetic and caring, against indifference and unfeeling;
- “gentleness and meekness – being polite, courteous, composed and serene, against being rude, impatient, hot-tempered, aggressive and hurting;
- “hunger and thirst” for righteousness – being passionate and relentless for justice and fairness, against all tepidity and feeding on unfairness;
- “mercy” – being compassionate, forgiving and reconciling, against resentment, revenge, and retaliation;
- “purity of heart” – being clear-sighted, single-minded and clean of heart, against being contaminated and polluted, cunning and deceitful;
- “peacefulness” – loving peace and promoting peace, against all violence and mindless agitation and anxiety;
- “persecution and insult” – bearing all misunderstanding, opposition, slander, calumny, and affliction for the sake of God and good, against seeking comfort, praise, and popularity for the sake of self.
6. Such a way of beatitudes subjects one to tremendous struggle and suffering. But one need not lose heart because the end fruit is eternal bliss. Nevertheless, this bliss will be already foretasted here on earth, in obtaining and relishing God’s own comfort, satisfaction, mercy, an abundance of fortitude, joy, and peace.
Practice: Sanctity is a project that is worth pursuing because its fruits are everlasting. It is always more worth to strive and suffer for something higher
