ALL SAINTS DAY
Readings: Rev. 7:2-4,9-14, 1Jn. 3:1-3, and Matt. 5:1-12
“We Are All Called to Be Saints.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
1. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of all the Saints in heaven. This means we are expressing our thanks to God that some of our brothers and sisters are in heaven, seeing God face to face, enjoying the Beatific Vision. This means that they had strove to live worthier lives, cooperating with God’s grace here on earth, during their Earthly Pilgrimage; they had persevered through all the trials of this life and at the end, they have been admitted in the heavenly Kingdom, heavenly banquet. In the words of the first reading, we got it that:
“They are those who have come out of the great persecution; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
These saints are from all the tribes and nations of all the earth. Our brothers and sisters are in heaven, a good number, they are praying for us, we are looking forward to joining them when our lives here on earth is ended.
2. Who is a Saint? Anyone who has taken on God’s ways is a Saint. What are God’s ways? They are the ways of:
- Kindness (Charity),
- Understanding,
- Generosity,
- Forgiveness,
- Mercy
- Faithfulness or fidelity,
- Hopefulness,
- Patience,
- Prayer,
And in the Gospel text we listened to, we were told they also include: “the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger for what is right, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, those persecuted in the course of right, and those humiliated because of their witnessing to Christ.”
3. The means by which we strive for sainthood help us fulfill the purposes of our creation. “God made us to know Him, love Him, serve Him and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” The Psalmist asked the question – who shall be admitted to your Tent Lord? In other words, who will be a saint among us Lord? He gave the answer thus:
“He who walks without fault;
He who acts with justice and
Speaks the truth from his heart;
He who does not slander with his tongue;
He who does no wrong to his brother,
Who cast no slur on his neighbor
Who holds the godless in disdain but
Honors those who fear the Lord;
He who keeps his pledge come what may;
Who takes no interest on a loan and
accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm forever. (Ps. 14 (15))
4. Thus, we are all called to be holy, to strive for sainthood, and it is possible for all of us to be holy, to be saints. God has given us the means to grow in holiness. We grow in holiness by:
- Avoiding bad-will with all its related vices – jealousy, envy, back-biting etc.
- Pray and grow in your prayer life (ordinary and extraordinary).
- Celebrate the Sacraments (Penance and the Eucharist) regularly.
- Fast when there is need to do so, (especially when some other person is to benefit).
- Be charitable (give without counting the cost if you have the means); this is the greatest virtue.
- Relate well with God and others – what last is a good relationship.
- Keep the Laws of God and those of the Church. May our brothers and sisters whom we rejoice because of their presence in the Triumphant Church, intercede for us in our daily endeavors to do God’s will here on earth and to eventually join them to share the eternal reward.
To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Anthony D. Lawir SD,
Pastor, St. Agnes and Our Lady of Snows Parish, Pittsfield and Dexter.