FIRST
READING: Revelation
7: 2 - 4, 9 - 14
2
Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the
seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four
angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
3
saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we
have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."
4
And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four
thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,
9
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could
number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white
robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10
and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God
who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11
And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and
the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the
throne and worshiped God,
12
saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."
13
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these,
clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?"
14
I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These
are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
PSALM:
Psalms 24:
1 - 6
1
The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those
who dwell therein;
2
for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the
rivers.
3
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his
holy place?
4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his
soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
5
He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God
of his salvation.
6
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of
the God of Jacob. [Selah]
SECOND
READING: 1 John
3: 1 - 3
1
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called
children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not
know us is that it did not know him.
2
Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we
shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for
we shall see him as he is.
3
And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
1 - 12
1
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down
his disciples came to him.
2
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be satisfied.
7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God.
10
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter
all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
