WHEN ALL THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
Throughout the year the Catholic Church celebrates the Feasts of all the holy men and women canonised as Saints. Today we honour all those men and women who are not officially canonised by the Church although they lived a holy and blessed life and are no more with us. Some of them are known to us as saintly persons. Although they are unrecognized and unknown, today in a special way we remember all of them.
First Reading: Revelations 7: 2-4 and 9-14
Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-3
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-12
*First reading is from the book of Revelations. It speaks of a huge crowd, innumerable standing before the throne of God. They were from every race, tribe, nation and language. These are men and women who lived a holy life, enduring trials of every kind and purified themselves in the blood of the lamb- Jesus. They are the Saints - blessed in the presence of God.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. John. It expresses the great love of the Heavenly Father for each one of us. We are God's children and we should purify ourselves so that we are as pure as God is. In order to attain this vision of God the Father, we must live like Christ Jesus.
"Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven." Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew which gives us a summary of Jesus' teaching through His explanation of the beatitudes. Jesus recognizes as blessed a wide range of people from those who are poor in spirit to those persecuted for their faith in the Lord. He graphically explains to us the qualities of those who can be called blessed in His eyes. Those who are absolutely poor; those who have no access to power and influence are blessed in the eyes of God. The gentle and the humble are the people who shall inherit the earth. Those who mourn, those who grieve for their sins, those who are moved by the pain and sufferings of others will be comforted. Those who hunger and thirst for justice and right will find satisfaction in the kingdom of God. Those who show mercy and are not revengeful will be rewarded with mercy and kindness in His kingdom. Those who are pure and unblemished in heart will be the privileged ones who see the face of God. And those who promote peace will be like their heavenly Father. Finally those who suffer persecutions will find peace in the kingdom of God. These are the men and women Jesus counts as blessed in His kingdom and they are truly His disciples. They are the Saints whose feast we celebrate today.
"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." - Nelson Mandela.
"God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners." - Soren Kierkegard.
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