Lord, this is the People that Longs to See Your Face"

Today's Mass Readings

We are always surrounded by the saints, and today is one time in particular when we reflect on the fact that our Church includes both the living and the dead. Today’s readings give us a beautiful and complex picture of the saints. The first reading (Rev 7:2-4, 9-14) is a description of heavelnly worship; this is a worship that includes all the angels and all the saints. When we here on earth worship at the Mass, we participate in heaven, and hence we worship alongside the angels and saints. And who are these saints? These are beyond those who are officially canonized saints, there are many others who have lived holy lives and now dwell with God in heaven. The Solemnity of All Saints gives us the opportunity to recognize these many saints who are unnamed to us but yet intercede for us who are on earth.

The psalm says, “Lord this is the people who longs to see your face” (Ps 24:5). The saints are the people who do see God’s face. As the first letter of John highlights, we, the living and dead members of the Church, are God’s children (1 Jn 3:2). The saints are the children of God who are like God, who are blessed in seeing him as he is. And what does it take to make a saint? Matthew’s gospel passage of the beatitudes is both challenging and comforting. Although there is much we must strive for, the rewards are infinite, or, in the words of the gospel, “your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:12a).

We are surrounded by a great cloud of saints, and their lives model for us our own call to sanctity. Let us look to the saints, who pray for us and who pray with us, and let us strive to be holy. As did the saints, may we eagerly anticipate our future life in heaven and work toward loving God more fully and relying on his grace in all that we do.

Maria Morrow