In this reading from the Book of Revelation, the author, who calls himself John, writes after the year A.D. 70. It was a time of terrible persecution of Christians. In his writing, he urged the Christians to persevere in their faith. In a vision the author sees "a huge crowd which no one could count" from every nation on earth. They stand in triumph before the throne of God and the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white and holding palm branches, the sign of victory. John is told who they are: those who survived the great trial and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. This is symbolic language. It means that these people, in their own lives, have participated in the suffering and death of Christ.
This washing makes their robes white, like the robes of those who have been baptized into Christ. We, too, are washed clean when we share in the death of Christ through the waters of Baptism. We may not be asked to die for our faith like so many of the early Christians. But we are called to be strong in our faith even when we are ridiculed by others.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1
Have you ever seen a television movie rerun that you have seen before? Perhaps it was a mystery movie with a surprise ending. How did it feel to know the ending? "Don't worry," you might say to someone watching with you. "It will all turn out okay in the end."
This is the message of the Book of Revelation. No matter what hard things we have to go through because we believe in Jesus Christ, it will all be worth it in the end. We can look forward to a beautiful surprise ending!
Imagine that you are to talk with someone who is thinking of becoming a believer in Christ. What hard things would you prepare this person for? Do you have any suggestions for coping with these hard things? The knowledge of this "surprise ending" can help us face death with faith and hope in Jesus and his victory over death.
In this reading we are reminded of the consoling hope we have as children of God. The world may not agree, John says, yet that is in fact who we are. One day we will see God face to face.
As children of God, we should live sinless lives. All children try to bring credit to their parents and their brothers and sisters. How much more should this be our aim as God's children.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2
Today we celebrate the saints, the saints we know and the saints that we will never know, saints that "the world does not recognize." What is a saint? Someone once said that a saint "does ordinary things in an extraordinary way." Can you think of someone you know who has some of the qualities of a saint? Can people become saints even if they are not "perfect"? (What might the sacrament of Reconciliation have to do with becoming a saint?) The Church canonizes some people and affirms that they lived lives of true holiness. Canonization is the Church's "stamp of approval" on their lives of following Christ. You might like to get to know a saint by researching one of the saints the Church remembers during the Church year. Consult the Lives of the Saints and the Liturgical Year calendar on www.webelieveweb.com. Ask: What in my life is similar to the life of this saint? What can this saint teach me about following Christ?
You might like to divide the group into twos and threes and proclaim this Gospel as a choral reading. Give each group one section or beatitude to read.
This reading from the Gospel of Matthew contains the Beatitudes. These statements are a summary of the way to sainthood for all the thousands and thousands of people who have followed Jesus faithfully. They show how the followers of Jesus today are to live for God's kingdom. All the rewards promised here will have their fulfillment in God's kingdom in heaven. Jesus calls us all to holiness. By following the teachings of Jesus and the Church, celebrating the sacraments, and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the way to heaven lies open for us. Our journey of faith may not be an easy one. There will be many hardships and challenges along the way. But if we walk humbly with our God, we will one day reach the place of justice and peace where God reigns forever.
Which of the Beatitudes do you find most challenging?
Discussion Points for Gospel
The Beatitudes show us that God knows about all the suffering and pain in the world. They also show us how God wants us to respond to it: with mercy, with peacemaking, with a hunger and thirst for holiness (right living and justice). The Beatitudes give us a hint of what we pray for when we pray "Your kingdom come." The Beatitudes are not just for the saints of long ago. They are for us today.
How will you show mercy today? How will you make peace? What makes you sad or happy? (Are you too centered on your own life and unconcerned about bigger problems in the world?) Choose a beatitude and tell one way you could put it into action this week.
Suggestion: Make a list of famous people living today. Research their lives. See what they are doing to help make this a better world. (You may be surprised. Some famous people work quietly for others behind the scenes.) What would you do to make this a better world? How can you start now?
