BROADCASTS.com

b'(Rv.7:2-4,9-14;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.24:1-6;\\xa0\\xa0 1Jn.3:1-3;\\xa0\\xa0 Mt.5:1-12) \\xa0 \\u201cEveryone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure.\\u201d \\xa0 All our readings speak of this purity this holy day.\\xa0 In the first reading we hear of the saints who \\u201chave washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.\\u201d\\xa0 Our psalm tells us it is \\u201cone whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,\\u201d who stands in God\\u2019s presence.\\xa0 The above quote is from our second reading, and Jesus tells us in our gospel, \\u201cBlessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.\\u201d\\xa0 Indeed, this purity of heart is the essential characteristic possessed by all the saints in heaven; and so we must strive to achieve it. I note a striking parallel particularly between our first reading from Revelation and David\\u2019s psalm: the reading begins with the image of the four angels (at the four corners of the universe) being prevented from their call \\u201cto damage the land and the sea\\u201d until the seal of God is placed upon the foreheads of the \\u201cone hundred and forty-four thousand [symbolizing absolute fullness in number] marked from every tribe of Israel\\u201d; and our psalm begins by proclaiming, \\u201cThe Lord\\u2019s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.\\u201d\\xa0 The reading continues with John\\u2019s \\u201cvision of a great multitude\\u201d who \\u201cstood before the throne and the Lamb\\u201d in their white robes; while, as it continues, our psalm tells us that only the pure of heart \\u201ccan ascend the mountain of the Lord\\u201d or \\u201cstand in His holy place.\\u201d\\xa0 Then the reading from Revelation cries out, \\u201cSalvation comes from our God\\u201d and exclaims of the blessings upon the Lord and so His faithful; and David\\u2019s psalm concludes that it is he who seeks Him who \\u201cshall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior.\\u201d What does all this tell us but what John states quite simply in his letter, our second reading: \\u201cBeloved, we are God\\u2019s children now,\\u201d and that when \\u201cwhat we shall be\\u2026 is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.\\u201d\\xa0 Yes, we are anointed by Him as His own creation and shall come to stand in His presence with all the angels and saints, proclaiming the blessing He is and the salvation He has provided us. And in our gospel Jesus climbs the mountain and sits and teaches those who gather around Him.\\xa0 And how blessed are these eyes that see Him!\\xa0 How blessed are these ears that hear Him!\\xa0 And how blessed are we, too, insofar as we hear Him this holy day as He calls to our hearts to have faith in Him and in the kingdom of heaven, to set our hearts on the hope of which He speaks.\\xa0 And blessed are we most when we suffer insult and persecution for the sake of the Lord, for by this we are purified, and through this \\u201cour reward will be great in heaven.\\u201d\\xa0 For we must die in Him before we rise in Him with all the saints in glory. \\xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. \\xa0 Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. \\xa0 ******* O LORD, let us be made pure as you are pure, as your saints have been made pure in the blood of the Lamb.\\xa0 YHWH, let us seek you with all our hearts, that we may find you and share in your glory with all the saints in Heaven.\\xa0 Help us to wash our robes clean, that they may be white, that we may be pure and so able to stand in your light.\\xa0 Make us your children, O LORD, blessed to dwell in your sight forever. If we must be purified by persecution in this world, what should that matter to us, LORD; why should that cause us concern?\\xa0 We should rejoice in this blessing even as we rejoice in the blessing of Heaven, for does not one lead to the other \\u2013 do we not find Heaven even here, even now, in our suffering with your Son?\\xa0 But give us your love, LORD, and all shall be cause for celebration for us. O how we long to worship you in your kingdom, LORD!\\xa0 How we long to bow before your throne with all your angels and saints.\\xa0 How we long to sing your praise with them.\\xa0 Let it be so, LORD.\\xa0 Let it be so even this day in our souls.'