WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING
Introduction: Today we celebrate the feast of all Saints: Known and unknown; canonised and yet to be canonised. Are we obliged to pray to the Saints in order to have them intercede for us? St. Thomas Aquinas a great theologian answers this question: "The order of God's law requires that we should be brought to Him through the Saints, His divine goodness pours forth His gifts through them. So, as God's blessings come down upon us through the intercession of the Saints, so we in turn must be brought to God by the same road. God has not ordained things in this manner through any lack of mercy on His part, but in order to conform us to His universally established order in creation, in which everything works through secondary causes. The inferior shall obtain salvation through appealing to the superior."
First Reading: Revelations 7: 2 to 4 and 9 to 14
Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1 to 3
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1 to 12
*First reading is from the book of Revelations. St. John give a description of the huge crowd standing before the throne of God. They are from every race, tribe, nation and language. These are the 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.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. John. John speaks about the love of the 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. To attain the vision of God, we must obey the commandments of God and live like His Son Jesus Christ.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A summary of Jesus' teachings on beatitudes is given. Jesus recognises a wide range of people as blessed in the kingdom of God. It includes those poor in spirit to those persecuted for their faith. Those who are absolutely poor: Those who have no access to power and influence are the blessed in the eyes of God. The gentle and the humble are the ones who shall inherit the earth and are blessed by God. Those who mourn, who grieve for their sins, who are moved by the afflictions of others will be comforted and blessed. Those who hunger and thirst for justice and right will find satisfaction in the kingdom of God and they too belong to the blessed. Those who show mercy and not revengeful will be rewarded with mercy and kindness in His kingdom and are blessed. Those who are pure and unblemished in heart will have the privilege to see the face of God and are blessed. Those who promote peace will be like their heavenly Father and are blessed. Finally, those who suffer persecutions will find a place in the kingdom of God and are blessed. These are the men and women Jesus counts as His true disciples and they are the Saints whose feast is celebrated today.
Conclusion: As we celebrate the feast of all Saints, we take pride in them who preceded us and those who live a holy life among us. They are numberless who remained faithful to the values of Jesus and stood by Him in every challenge they faced in the world. We rejoice in the Saints we have known and know. They are the blessed ones. They attended to the hungry, the orphans, the aged, the lepers, the outcasts and the unwanted by the society. They are the ones Jesus tells at the last judgement: "Whenever you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me." We thank God for those whose whispered prayers, have enriched us and strengthened us in our life journey. We express our gratitude for those whose lives are welcomed as good news by the poor and the oppressed. Those who keep on forgiving and comforting like Jesus Himself.
May the Lord Jesus, who blessed the poor, the under privileged, the humble, the merciful, the pure of heart and the persecuted, bless you and grant you the grace to be part of the blessed in His Kingdom. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph on YouTube follows. Please view, like,. share and subscribe to the video version. Thanks.)
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