The Word of the Lord

This Sunday's Scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Read, reflect, and prepare your heart for worship.

This Sunday’s Readings

All Saints’ Day

Year A

November 1, 2026

Collect Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Collect of the Day for All Saints’ Day, from The Book of Common Prayer (1979).

First Reading Revelation 7:9-17

Translation: |

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15“For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out with a loud voice:

“Victory belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, 12saying,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and always. Amen.”

13Then one of the elders said to me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he said to me, “These people have come out of great hardship. They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.

15This is the reason they are before God’s throne. They worship him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.
16They won’t hunger or thirst anymore. No sun or scorching heat will beat down on them,
17because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Psalm Psalm 34:1-10, 22 · Benedicam Dominum

1I will bless the Lord at all times; *his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2I will glory in the Lord; *let the humble hear and rejoice.
3Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *let us exalt his Name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he answered me *and delivered me out of all my terror.
5Look upon him and be radiant, *and let not your faces be ashamed.
6I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *and saved me from all my troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *and he will deliver them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good; *happy are they who trust in him!
9Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *for those who fear him lack nothing.
10The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
• • •
22The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *and none will be punished who trust in him.

Psalm text from the Psalter of The Book of Common Prayer (1979). The asterisk marks the mid-verse pause.

Second Reading 1 John 3:1-3

Translation: |

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us. 2Dear friends, now we are God’s children, and it hasn’t yet appeared what we will be. We know that when he appears we will be like him because we’ll see him as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure.

Gospel Matthew 5:1-12

Translation: |

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. 2He taught them, saying:

3“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad. 5“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth. 6“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full. 7“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy. 8“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God. 9“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. 10“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11“Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. 12Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.”