Today’s Catholic Reflection
In the passage from Revelation, John shares a vision. An angel from the East holds the seal of God. This angel instructs others not to harm the earth until God's servants are marked. John hears that 144,000 people from the tribes of Israel have received this seal. He then sees a vast multitude from many nations. They are dressed in white robes and holding palm branches, praising God and the Lamb for their salvation. An elder tells John that these individuals have faced great trials and have been purified through the Lamb's sacrifice.
The Psalm expresses a deep longing to see God's face. It affirms that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. It asks who is worthy to approach God. The answer is clear: only those with clean hands and pure hearts may do so. In the letter from John, believers are reminded of their identity as children of God. They hold the hope of becoming like Him. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the Beatitudes. He declares blessings for the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the meek. He assures them that their struggles will be rewarded in heaven.