First Reading
Rev 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.
Responsorial Psalm
The Lord is my light and my salvation
- whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the rampart of my life;
I will not be afraid.
When the wicked rush at me to devour my flesh,
it is my foes who stumble, my enemies fall.
Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who will stand in his holy place?
Those with clean hands and pure heart,
who desire not what is vain, and never swear to a lie.
They will receive blessings from the Lord,
a reward from God, their savior.
Such are the people who seek him,
who seek the face of Jacob's God.
Second Reading
Jn 3,1-3
See what singular love the Father has for us: we are called children of God, and we
really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children and what we shall be has not yet been shown. Yet
when he appears in his glory, we know that we shall be like him, for then we shall see
him as he is. All who have such a hope try to be pure as he is pure.
Gospel
Mt 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
have the spirit of the poor, 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.