Life’s real victors

Tuesday,
November 1, 2016
All Saints Day
1st Reading:
Rev 7:2-4,9-14
2nd Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him. Then he spoke and began to teach them:

“Fortunate are those who have the spirit of the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.

“Fortunate are the gentle, they shall possess the land.

“Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

“Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

“Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.

“Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God.

“Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. This is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE

(Daily Gospel
in the Assimilated
Life Experience)

Not everyone who wins rejoices. You must have heard about the hilarious story of a raffle draw winner.

Though he won he was sad because the prize was a pre-cooked sack of rice. Not all who lose mourn. Consider the joke about four passengers of a small plane that was about to crash. These included a priest, an altar boy, a congressman and a lawyer. But they only had three parachutes available. The lawyer and the congressman insisted they deserved a parachute each because they were important to society. The priest mourned at the selfishness of his fellow passengers, but he was ready to lose and so he allowed the lawyer and the congressman to have it their way. After the two were gone the altar boy said: “Rejoice, Father, for there are parachutes for you and for me. The lawyer grabbed my knapsack”.

The priest was ready to lose, but circumstances came out favorable to him later. Many who are ready to lose may not be as lucky as him, but we know that in the eyes of God they are the real victors. In today’s Gospel Jesus establishes the reversal of fortunes making those who unjustly suffer now truly fortunate for all eternity. Today we honor these real victors as we celebrate All Saints’ Day. May what they have become in the Church inspire us to face life with renewed hope. May their lives instruct us along the path that leads to genuine victory. May their intercession see as through as we strive to persevere in this lifetime! Amen. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM, MMExM, MAPM, REB. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com

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