Daily Reflection for Friday, November 01, 2019
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110119.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Responsorial: Psalm 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12A
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“Blessed are…” Matthew 5: 1A
Today is All Saints Day and the readings help guide us to sainthood. First, in the reading from Revelation, we receive a taste of what heaven is like when we are presented with the vision of a chorus of a great multitude of people from all the nations shouting, “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb” (Verse 10B) and of angels, elders and four living creatures prostrating themselves before the throne. Just imagine watching or participating in such a celebration!
Then John helps to bridge the great divide between our sinful nature and becoming clean of hand and pure of heart, mentioned in the Psalm, by reminding us that the Father sent Jesus as a sign of God’s love for us. John said, “See what love God has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” (Verse 1) John goes on to tell us that God sent his only Son so that we could grow into what has not yet been revealed, so we could grow in holiness, become a saint, become like Jesus.
In Matthew, we are given the instructions for sainthood. At first and second glance, these instructions are hard to understand and lofty. Jesus gave us the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes because he knew that we all will search for happiness and when we search, we will search for it in the wrong places. He knew we needed help.
As I look back on my life to this point, I can clearly see the limited happiness generated in times that I have searched for it in material possessions, my own sense of accomplishment and self-reliance, or doing as I pleased. Any happiness in these situations was fleeting at best. It has been the times that I have relied on God’s help that I have experienced true happiness.
God’s advice for happiness is given in the Beatitudes. His advice? A relationship with God at the center. A relationship that helps us detach from things of this world and attach to God. A relationship that allows our hearts to grow in love and service of others and allows our hearts and minds to seek and ask God for help. It is this relationship that allows God’s light to shine through our lives, like light shines through stained glass. When His love shines through our actions, our hearts and hands, those we serve are blessed and we grow in holiness. The result, happiness. Rejoice and be glad!
Blessings for the journey!
Paula Paul