The Path the Saints followed

 

Saints lived their lives to be like God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Solemnity of All Saints, Wednesday 1st November, 2023
Texts: Revelation 7:2-4.9 14; Psalm 24:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

                                  The Path the Saints followed

Today we celebrate all the saints, both officially recognised and unrecognised saints. They are from all nations. St. John, in today’s first reading, refers to them as the servants of God who once lived on earth. Being called servants of God means they dedicated their lives to the service of God. Being  servants of God they were obedient to Him and carried out His will on earth.  

St. John also affirms that they were those had pass through great tribulation. In his words: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation” Jesus says, "’Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’” 

Salvation belongs to our God 

They are those who have faith in the passion of Christ and enjoyed its full benefit. Hence, St. John says, “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” They continue to live in gratitude to God and Jesus Christ. St. John affirms it in the words: “and behold, a great multitude ... and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" 

St. John shows that we enjoy the benefits of their merits. This is clear when he tells us that God preserve the earth, the sea and the trees for their sake. We read, “I, John, saw another angel ... and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.’" Their merit also manifests in the inspiration we receive from their heroic deeds.  

Saints lived their lives to be like God

St. John, in the second reading, shows that saints are those who prepared in purity for the Lord. He says, “And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” They lived their lives to be like God. They now behold God face to face and are like Him. In the words of St. John: “we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” We honour in them our destiny, what we shall be. They have reached perfection.  

Jesus Christ, in the gospel reading, tells us that are those who were poor in spirit, meek, merciful and peacemakers; they are those who mourned and thirsted for righteousness. 

Today’s celebration is a reminder that sainthood is our goal as children and servants of God. The readings remind us that the saints were once like us, living on earth. God’s words show us the path the saints followed and instruct us to follow it. Let us not fail to do so. Today we honour them and seek their intercession and support. They do not fail to intercede for us and to support us from heaven. May they not find in us disappointment. Amen.  

Prayer  

Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Amen  

HAPPY NEW MONTH!  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke