Sunday, November 1, 2020
ALL SAINTS’ DAY
“Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” They ever cry.
Hail, Abr’ham’s God and mine! I join the heav’nly lays:
All might and majesty are Thine And endless praise! LSB 798:9
At Christmas is sung “God rest you merry, gentlemen,” with “tidings of comfort and joy.” Those tidings were made because our Lord had entered human history. We will finally realize those tidings for ourselves when we join the saints in eternal glory, they who are seen in the vision we will read from Revelation. In the meantime, in these mean times, we rely on hope to get us through each day, as St. Paul writes in the Epistle. That hope is based on our being God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters of our risen Lord Jesus. It is both comforting and joyful, no matter our circumstances. As Jesus proclaims in the Gospel’s Beatitudes, people with such hope are blessed indeed!
READINGS
First Reading:
Psalm:
Epistle:
Gospel:
Revelation 7:9–17 (Saints around God’s throne now eternal salvation after having endured persecution.)
Psalm 149
1 John 3:1–3 (We are already God’s children.)
Matthew 5:1–12 (Jesus’ followers are blessed now because of His sure promises.)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical Body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.