They are the ones who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, those who have remained faithful under trial,

who, like Christ, have offered their lives for truth, justice, charity, and peace.

Each of us challenges us to desire to become Saints, for only by being Saints can we be counted amongst the Saved!

 

 ＊＊＊ 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 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 John 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 pure hearts, 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 righteousness, 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 ：

"All the holy ones live forever with God."

The Solemnity of All Saints is called the feast of the holy city. It is the day we celebrate all of our brothers and sisters who, having lived a holy life or having passed through a time of purification, now live in the presence of God for all eternity. As the reading from the Book of Revelation makes clear, the holy city is open to people of any race, nation, or tongue. There is no division in the holy city. All are united as children of God: holy, pure, and blessed.

 

The Church has declared some people saints, holding them up as models of virtue and examples of holy living. But the list of canonized saints does not exhaust the citizenship of the holy city. All Saints Day is a good time to reflect on the holy people that we have known in our lives. Their names and faith may not be widely known. For some, their faith and holiness may be known to God alone, But all the holy ones live forever with God. Let us live so that we may join them.