＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

 I saw another angel

 Ascending from the sunrise, carrying the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels empowered to harm the earth and the sea,   “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”

 Then I heard the number of those marked with the seal: a hundred and forty-four thou­­sand from all the tribes of the people of Israel:

 After this I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands,   and they cried out with a loud voice, “Who saves but our God who sits on the throne and the Lamb?”

 All the angels were around the throne, the elders and the four liv­ing creatures; they then bowed before the throne with their faces to the ground to wor­ship God. they said, Amen. Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength to our God forever and ever.

Amen! At that moment, one of the elders spoke up, and said to me, “Who are these people clothed in white, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, it is you who know this.”

The elder replied, “They, are those who have come out of the great persecution; they have washed, and made their clothes white, in the blood of the Lamb.

 

Ps 24 1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Lord this is the people that longs to see your face.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1John 3:1-3

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him.

Then he spoke and began to teach them:

 Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.

Fortunate are the gentle, they shall pos­sess the land.

 Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.

 Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God.

 Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers.

Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God.

   
 Gospel Reflection：

The saints are lovable beings. They remind us of a different kind of hero. For they are the spiritual superheroes of our church. Their glorious assembly provides us with access to a massive list of prayer partners who pray with us and for us.

This includes the official “greats” of our church history. These are the saints whose heroism in the spiritual life is officially acknowledged by the Church. But there are countless saints who lived a life of obscurity. They may not be declared by the church but they now enjoy the company of the elect in heaven.

It may include family and friends whose holiness and love directly touched and enriched our lives. These are the saints whose feast we celebrate today. May they continue to pray for us who are still on our way to heaven .