Today's Bible readings

Today's Bible readings for All Saints Day are taken from Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 (1^st), 1 John 3:1-3 (2^nd) and Gospel from Matthew 5:1-12. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. 

Today's Bible readings for All Saints Day

Today's Bible readings First Reading Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

2 Then I saw another angel ascend 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, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Today's Bible readings Response in Psalms 24:1-6

1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; 2 for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah]

Today's Bible readings Second reading 1 John 3:1-3

1 See what love the Father has given 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. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Today's Bible readings Gospel Matthew 5:1-12

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Today's Bible readings Reflection

Our time on Earth will come to an end one day. Then we will have to stand in front of Our Lord. Are we worthy enough to see Our Lord? As mentioned in Today's Bible readings 1^st reading, only those will stand in front of Our Lord who are pure and faithfully have come out of the great tribulation. “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. We will face difficult times in our life on Earth but even in that time we must not lose faith and hope. All out tribulation will not go in vain. As it is written,

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5: 3-5). Let us not lose hope in the time of adversities. Difficult time will pass one day. Let us come out of it as washed and white with pure heart.

The response in Today's Bible readings Psalms also reflects on the importance of purity. Only those will ascend the hill of the Lord and will stand in his holy place who have clean hands and pure heart.

We are children of God, and as his children are we not supposed to be clean and pure?

Today's Bible readings Gospel reflects on 10 Beatitudes. They clearly sets out guidelines as to how we should spend our life on Earth. There is a blessing in every of our hardship. Be merciful and kind. For all our tribulation reward is great in heaven. Let us pause and pray for all who are being persecuted, who are facing tribulations in their daily lives. Our prayer for them will give them hope. Amen