Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 1, 2025

Date: Solemnity of All Saints

Scripture Text:  Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today, the Solemnity of All Saints, is most fitting in that it puts before us Jesus’ teaching at the beginning of His ministry, the opening teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus lays before us the characteristics of those who will share life with Him, the Saints.

·       Poor in spirit – aware to their core of their essential need for the LORD;

·       Those who mourn – those who grieve the loss of any other child of God;

·       The meek – the gently humble who exercise great strength and self-control;

·       Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – those who work tirelessly to strengthen their relationship with the LORD and others;

·       The merciful – those who understand that the primary currency of relationships is loving mercy and are willing to forgive as they’ve been forgiven;

·       The pure of heart – those of moral integrity free of duplicity, hypocrisy, and selfishness focused on the LORD, love itself;

·       The peacemakers – those who tirelessly work to restore the “wholeness” of life to themselves, others, and the world;

·       Those persecuted for the sake of righteousness – those who suffer consequences because of their insistence upon living according to the LORD’s will for us;

·       Those persecuted because of their tie to Christ – Christians who deserve the title.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How “blessed” am I as I examine my life? How closely does my life and do my choices mirror one who is “blessed” according to Christ?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, for love of us and for our redemption, You sent your beloved and only-begotten Son to live among us, taking on our human nature in all ways except sin, to reveal the depth of your love and to open the way for life in abundance with You. Send your Spirit to knead our hearts and to open our minds so that we might more freely and wholly conform our wills to You and your will for us. Grant that we may be poor of spirit, pure of heart, merciful and righteous, loving of others, and willing to suffer for love of You, love of Christ, and love of one another. Help us to be instruments of your peace here on earth. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.