Solemnity of All Saints
In the first reading for today, John relates the vision that he receives of the revelation of God in paradise. John’s vision is of the time when the elect shall enter into God’s presence at the final judgment. It is an inspiring image of what is possible for us if we trust in God and obey God’s call. Although the elect are sometimes called ‘servants’ of God, it is not base servitude to which they are called. Instead, they have union with God and see him face to face. The white garments they are wearing may be a reference to Christian baptism, where we are born into the new life that is possible in Christ Jesus (Revelation 7: 14). As a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians have the ability to enter into God’s kingdom and to receive the promise of eternal life.
The second reading continues these same themes. It tells us that the faithful followers of Jesus are considered children of God. When Jesus Christ comes in glory “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3: 2). Then we shall be pure even as Jesus is pure (1 John 3: 3). In fact, it seems that seeing Jesus in his glory requires purity of heart. It requires us to love righteousness and to seek after God with all our hearts.
Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. The saints are examples held up by the Church to demonstrate that it is possible to live a life of holiness. They are examples for us ordinary Christians to emulate. We recognize in them much of ourselves, yet we also realize that they have done something extraordinary. We begin to wonder where we would be without these people, yet we are also aware that we can be like them at least in some small way.
What sort of life did they lead? And what do we have to do to live the kind of life that they did? Jesus answers these questions in the gospel reading. The beatitudes are Jesus’ teaching for how to live a happy and fulfilled life. To be truly happy we must learn to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. Only this can make us truly happy. This is what the saints have desired and pursued. One specific way that this is seen in the beatitudes is in Jesus’ statement that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed. We are called to always strive to do what is right no matter what the cost is for us personally. Although true discipleship may in fact be costly, Jesus tells us that we will be rewarded for our sacrifice. Through it we develop love that is similar to God’s love for us.
Let each of us consider today the ways that we can more intentionally increase our devotion to Jesus and to his gospel message. And let us be mindful today of how the saints who have gone before can be an inspiration for us in our daily Christian journey.
- Joel Schickel