SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

Revelation 7:2-4.9-14

1 John 3:1-3

Matthew 5:1-12

 

CALLED TO BE SAINTS

 

We celebrate today the solemnity of All Saints. We often apply the title of Sainthood to those Catholics who have distinguished themselves with a life of faith, a heroic witness to Christ in martyrdom or a life of unparallel Christian virtues, and have been canonized or beatified by the Church. But “All Saints” refers to that great multitude of men and women, young and old, Christians and non-Christians alike, whose lives on earth were pleasing to God, and now are with God in paradise.

 

In the first reading, St John had a vision of one hundred and forty-four thousands people from the twelve tribes of Israel, and also another “great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches before the throne of God and the Lamb. They had survived the time of great distress and washed their robes, making them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

They were not supermen on earth, but ordinary men and women like us. They remained faithful to the end in spite of everything. They exhibited the virtues proclaimed by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes, which may be rightly said to be “the Charter for Sainthood.” As such, anyone who lives in accordance with the Beatitude will inherit the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:1-12). For God has loved us and made us his children. But what we shall be has not yet been revealed. Thus, what we hope and long for is to be like him when we see him as he really is (1John 3:1-3).

 

It can be observed therefore that Sainthood is not reserved to a selected few. Each and every one of us is called to be a Saint, to be the best-version of himself or herself. We are all called to perfection. But let us remember that “perfection does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.” In short, becoming a saint consists in doing good daily and doing it well. Again, we can do nothing without God’s grace. Therefore, let us ask him to grant us his grace so that we may follow the footsteps of the Saints and contemplate his glory one day in heaven. Amen

 

Happy Feast to you all !