First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Reflection:
The book of Revelation uses symbolic imagery to paint a picture of heaven. It is, in fact, the record of the Apostle John’s vision of heaven. While the symbolic imagery used can sound very confusing to our ears, it portrays deep meaning about salvation and eternal life. This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Day. This great solemnity calls us in a particular way to turn our gaze toward heaven and remember that we are all called to be saints. In doing this, we look at all the great saints of our faith for inspiration and guidance. In John’s vision of heaven, we learn a few things about saints and heaven. First, the saints are the ones “marked with the seal.” This language evokes an account found in the Old Testament in the book of Ezekiel where the holy ones were marked on their foreheads with the Hebrew letter taw. This letter is shaped like a cross (similar to the English “t”). Thus, the saints are the ones marked with the sign of the cross. This highlights many things in the Christian life, including baptism (where we are signed with the cross), confirmation (where we are sealed with the Holy Spirit through the cross being traced with holy oil on our foreheads), and the sign of the cross itself (that we regularly make in our prayer and worship). Second, in John’s vision he saw “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” This evidences the universal (i.e. catholic) nature of the Church. Heaven is not exclusive to one people group. Rather, there will be people there “from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” Furthermore, this gives us hope that there are many, many saints (more than anyone can count). Third, we learn that the saints endured “great distress” on earth and have been “washed…in the Blood of the Lamb.” This teaches us that to become a saint is not an easy road. It is a process of purification, which involves going against the grain of the world and making sacrifices that often involve suffering. Sanctity comes with a price. Ultimately, the price was the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. We are called to join ourselves to Jesus’ sacrifice through self-giving love in order to grow in holiness by His grace.
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Reflection:
The Apostle John speaks lovingly here of fellow baptized Christians and teaches us about our identity. As baptized Christians, we are saints in the making. In baptism, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and become children of God. Therefore, we belong to God and are called to live accordingly. Being a child of God means living contrary to the ways of this world. In Scripture, the “world” represents everything contrary to God. It refers to the sinfulness and disfunction found all around us. As Christians, we are called to look different from the secular society around us. We are called to be “pure.” This is a process that is called sanctification (literally, becoming holy). This journey of sanctification begins at baptism when we are cleansed of original sin and join God’s family. But that is just the beginning. The whole Christian life is about turning from sin and giving ourselves completely to God. This is not an easy process, but God gives us everything we need to succeed. And the reward is well worth all the effort, for “we shall see [God] as he is.” The reward is eternal life with God in heaven. This Sunday, we celebrate all the saints who have gone before us and we are reminded that we can be part of the communion of saints too if we allow God to make us pure.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12A
Reflection:
This Sunday’s gospel reading comes from the beginning of Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount.” We hear, in particular, the beatitudes, which teach us how Jesus wants us to live as His followers. As was expressed in the second reading, to be a Christian means to live contrary to the ways of this world. The beatitudes show us just that. The world says success is based on wealth, but Jesus says we are to be “poor in spirit.” Money itself is not bad, but “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Jesus calls us to be detached from wealth. Furthermore, the world tells us to seek pleasure. Just think of the popular phrase, “If it feels right, do it.” Rather, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” The world tells us to seek power, but Jesus says be “meek.” Moreover, the world says honor and the approval of others is important, but Jesus says, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” Simply put, the beatitudes are the “how to” of sainthood. Saints are “meek;” they are “pure of heart;” saints are “merciful” and “peacemakers;” they “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” God’s children are even willing to be persecuted and insulted for the sake of Christ. Therefore, if you want to be a saint, seek these things. Strive to align yourself with the beatitudes and, if you find it difficult, just remember, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” In other words, it’s all worth it in the end.
Application:
- Do you desire to be a saint? What steps do you need to take, with God’s help, to grow in holiness? How can you better put the beatitudes into practice?
