[Revelation 7:2-4,9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a]

We are often encouraged to place ourselves within the Sacred Scriptures that we read or listen to. Today’s first reading is one where we hope we are actually among the ‘great multitude … standing before the Throne and before the Lamb’. This book was written towards the end of the First century when Christians were being persecuted by the Roman Empire and citizens were being encouraged to worship the Emperor as their Lord. We have similar choices today. Do we accept God as our Lord or are we attracted and distracted by the ways of the world? Do we seek the riches available in this world or in the next?

The guidebook for the next world is found in today’s Gospel. In the Beatitudes we hear Jesus give eight ways we can welcome God into our lives. Notice how the first and the last Blessings are bookended with ‘theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew’s beatitudes concentrate on the spiritual attitudes we should all seek to receive these blessings; and by implication, enter the kingdom of Heaven. The beatitudes are like a self-portrait of Jesus, who came from heaven to save us and ascended back to heaven after He rose from the dead. During his life of Ministry, He showed us how to love our neighbour, look out for the poor, visit the sick, embrace those who were shunned by others, and above all else to be merciful. Jesus as the architect of love, taught us how to love; by being selfless; instead of our tendency to be selfish.

The second reading today is from the first letter of St John, where he reminds us that we are children of God here on earth, and that our full character and personality will not be revealed until Jesus comes again, when we shall be like him. St John is reminding us that we are created in His image and likeness, and we are to do all we can to be like Him on earth; by following His commandments and His example. By doing this we will be living out the Beatitudes and God willing, enter His kingdom, when He comes again.

The readings today, are a further example that our faith is not just words in a book, or words spoken by Jesus and the disciples. Our Faith is one which demands a response to what we read and hear. We are not just to feel sympathy for the downtrodden, we are supposed to lift them up from their current state and encourage them to be like Christ too.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[1]

The Solemnity of All Saints

CCC 61, 946-962, 1090, 1137-1139, 1370: the Church, a communion of saints
CCC 956, 2683: the intercession of the saints
CCC 828, 867, 1173, 2030, 2683-2684: the saints, examples of holiness

Please remember in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
  • All those attending the RCIA programmes
  • Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • The success of this weekend’s Diaconal conference.
  • For the success of the forthcoming Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money-coaching sessions, here at St Bede’s.
  • Success of the Pastoral Area Course “Mary – A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother.”
  • The souls in Purgatory, especially those with no one to pray for them.

Deacon Tony

31st October 2025.

[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments