Blessed are the Saints
Today is November 1, and so the Church celebrates All Saints Day, and our Scripture readings are taken from that solemnity. Our Scripture readings not only help us remember the saints who have gone before us, they help us reflect on our own call to holiness.
As I was reflecting on the readings, I was drawn to the vision we hear in our first reading from Revelation (7:2-4, 9-14). The author has a vision of four angels given the power to damage the earth, ready to do their task, but told to wait until “one hundred forty-four thousand’ were marked with the seal “on the foreheads of the servants of God.” Then our reading goes to another vision of a “great multitude,” “wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” They were praising God. And then one of the elders explains who these people were: “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Throughout history there have been times of “great distress,” and perhaps we can think of saints as people who have washed themselves immersed in the love and mercy of God in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Having “washed” themselves like this, they have followed Jesus Christ in love and mercy and lives of service.
It is not hard for us to see the present time as a period of “great distress,” with its share of violence and hatred and fear. But our response is not to be one of despair or indifference! Our response is to be like that of the multitude in the vision, like that of the saints who have gone before us. Our response is to “wash” ourselves, to let ourselves be overwhelmed, by the love of God in Jesus Christ! We are to be caught up in wonder at what we hear in our second reading (1 John 3:1-3):
“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.”
And we are called to respond to that love of God “bestowed on us.”
How do we respond? Jesus gives us a great framework in our Gospel reading (Matthew 5:1-12a), otherwise known as the Beatitudes. Jesus puts these attitudes and actions in the context of being “blessed.”
To the all-too-human temptation to think everything we have comes from our own effort, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Blessed are they who know they need God, and are willing to put their trust in God’s love and God’s will. To the temptation to try to gain power over others, Jesus says, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land…Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” To be meek and merciful is not to be weak, but to refrain from seeking domination over others and doing violence to them. To those who are tempted to avoid suffering by trying to numb their pain by denial and distractions, Jesus says, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Blessed are they who not only mourn the loss of people close to them, but also have room in their hearts to mourn the loss and suffering of others, and all of creation, even people they do not know, or who do not belong to their group.
And to those who are seeking to do the right thing, Jesus says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied… Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God…Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you…because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
