1 November 2024 - Only By Grace Reflections

#OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist #SolemnityofAllSaints

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you.

Topic: HAVE I BEEN PREPARING MYSELF TO BE SAINT?

First Reading: Revelation 7: 2-4, 9-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Second Reading: First John 3: 1-3
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12a

Today, we celebrate the All Saints' Day. As Christians and followers of Christ, we are called to be saints. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops defines a saint as a person in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.

As God calls us to be with Him for all eternity, our road to sainthood is a life-long preparation. In today's Gospel, also known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His followers the Beatitudes, which are His tips on how to become a saint and attain heaven.

The Beatitudes is a never-ending call to action as we pursue the will of God in our earthly lives. In order for us to finish the race triumphantly, as did the saints, we would need the Lord's graces of fortitude,
patience, and perseverance. Each Beatitude ends with an assurance of an eternal reward, which is now being enjoyed by our saints even as they pray and intercede for us.

This is the 1650th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.

[NOTE: Let us listen to our brother Harris Jacildo, Sector Head of CFC Metro Manila South B, as he brings us today's reflection.

All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS]