Let us be willing to accept the proposal of the beatitudes and form communion with the multitude of those who have already been glorified with Christ.***

  First Reading: Revelation 7.2-4.9-14

Reading of the book of Revelation of Saint John – I, John, 2saw another angel, who was ascending from the side where the sun rises. He bore the mark of the living God and cried out with a loud voice to the four angels who had received the power to harm the earth and the sea, saying to them: 3“Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we mark the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4Then I heard the number of those who had been marked: they were one hundred and forty-four thousand, from all the tribes of the children of Israel. 9After that, I saw an immense crowd of people from every nation, tribe, people and language, that no one could count. They were standing before the throne and the Lamb; They were dressed in white robes and had palms in their hands. 10They all proclaimed with a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they prostrated themselves with their faces to the ground before the throne. And they worshiped God, saying: 12“Amen. Praise, glory and wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and strength belong to our God forever. Amen". 13And one of the elders spoke to me and asked, “Who are these, dressed in white clothes? Where did they come from?” 14I replied, “You know, my lord.” And then he said to me, “These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation. They washed and bleached their clothes in the blood of the Lamb.” - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 23(24)

This is the generation of those who seek the Lord!

1. The earth and what it contains belongs to the Lord, / the entire world with the beings that populate it; / because he made it firm on the seas / and on the waters he keeps it steadfast. – R.

2. “Who will go up to the mountain of the Lord, / who will stay in his holy dwelling?” / “Who has pure hands and an innocent heart, / who does not turn his mind to crime. – R.

3. Upon this comes the blessing of the Lord / and the reward of his God and savior.” / “This is the generation of those who seek him / and seek the face of the God of Israel.” – R.

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

Reading of the first letter of Saint John – Dear friends, 1see what a great gift of love the Father gave us: to be called children of God! And we are! If the world does not know us, it is because it has not known the Father. 2Dearly beloved, we are already children of God, but it has not even been revealed what we will be! We know that when Jesus appears, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is. 3Everyone who hopes in him purifies himself, just as he also is pure. - Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Come to me, all of you who are tired and burdened with carrying a heavy burden, / and I will give you rest, says the Lord (Mt 11:28). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew – At that time, 1when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up to the mountain and sat down. The disciples approached, 2and Jesus began to teach them: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Blessed are the afflicted, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will possess the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are those who promote peace, for they will be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Who are the saints? All who, animated by charity, live and die in the grace of God can be called saints; in a special sense, however, they are those whom the Church has elevated to the honors of the altars for having practiced the virtues in a heroic way or for having given their lives for the cause of faith. Regarding the intercession of the saints, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “They do not fail to intercede for us before the Father, presenting the merits they achieved on earth through the only mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus. Therefore, through their fraternal concern, our weakness receives the most valuable assistance” (n. 956). The beatitudes constitute the path proposed by Jesus for a life consistent with the Kingdom of God on this earth, with a view to eternal communion with God in heaven.

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