Today’s Scripture Readings

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Today we celebrate the countless saints who have gone before us — women and men, known and unknown, who lived with faith, hope, and love. They were ordinary people who allowed the extraordinary light of God to shine through their lives. Many names may never appear in books or headlines, yet they reflected God’s love in the everyday – in kitchens and classrooms, workplaces and neighbourhoods and families. Their quiet fidelity and compassion remind us that holiness is not distant or unreachable; it is woven into the fabric of daily life.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes up the mountain and teaches the Beatitudes, eight blessings that reveal the way of discipleship. Each ‘Blessed are…’ shows us a path shaped by humility, mercy and peace. These words are not rules to follow, but invitations to live with the heart of Christ.

As Pope Francis reminds us in Gaudete et Exsultate, holiness is found in ‘the saints next door’ — people who love patiently, forgive freely, and serve with joy. They are people who live lives that make God’s love visible in the world.

The saints remind us that holiness is not about perfection but communion, allowing grace to transform our hearts.

Today, as we remember them, we are invited to welcome the same light that shone in their lives—the light of God’s love. We are called to let that light guide our hearts and actions: to reflect God’s love in our daily lives, to bless the world through gentleness and mercy, and to let our ordinary choices become a quiet expression of praise to the One who calls us all to be saints.