Solemnity of All Saints, Year C - Nov. 1, 2016.
Readings: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Gospel Mt 5:1-12A.
Theme: In Communion with the Saints.
Beloved in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. It might interest you to know that today's celebration has an ecumenical dimension because the Anglican Communion, the Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church and other Protestant churches observe this day alongside the Catholic Church. This celebration is predicated on the fundamental belief that there is an unbreakable spiritual bond between the citizens of heaven (the Church triumphant) and the living (the Church militant). As a day in which we commemorate all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven, All Saints Day is a solemnity and a holiday of obligation in Catholic countries. On this day, we give solemn thanks to God for the known and unknown lives of the saints. Glorious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful (Psalm 116:15). As we reflect on the spiritual meaning attached to this celebration, we must understand who the saints are and their intercessory role:
1. Someone has defined saints are men and women who did ordinarily things in an extraordinary way. Far from being superhuman or extraordinary human beings, the saints are people who heroicly underwent the struggles of this earthly life and pleased God. Some people think that the saints were angels or super human beings who were immuned from sin. Conversely, the saints were normal human beings who struggled with their weaknesses, became enthusiastic about God and never failed to appropriate his graces - Hence, they became the friends of God and our ancestors. 2. In a stricter sense, saints are virtuous men and women who loved God and their neighbour and were found worthy to be canonised by the Church because they lived an exemplary life: “[these are those]who have come out of the great tribulations; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God” (Rev. 7:14-15). 3. This celebration offers hope to the militant Church here on earth which implies that where the saints are, we too may be as exemplified in the beatific vision which the first reading speaks about (Rev. 7:2-4, 9-14). 5.The lives of the saints should personally motivate us to build our lives around our spiritual ancestors who are constantly interceding for us. 6.The celebration propels us to re-commit ourselves to one of the major articles of our faith namely: “Belif in the communion of saints.” 7. This celebration reminds us about our great patrimony which is that the Church is a communion of both the living and the dead. Little wonder God would refer to himself as the Lord of the living and the dead (Mark 12:27). 8. While reflecting on the Saints, we must realise that God does not limit the gift of holiness and sainthood to biblical personages like Peter, Paul, James and John. This is why the Holy Spirit still raises virtuous men and women in the Church. 9. This is why the Church believes in Sainthood. Little wonder she canonises her children who have lived exemplary and worthy lives. Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta comes to mind. 10. It is important to note that the Church which has the power of binding and losing can adjudge that a person has lived a good life. These are the faithful who are eventually beatified and canonised as saints once miracles are associated with their relics or intercession. 11. We too are called to demonstrate heroic faith by living and serving God and our neighbour well. 12. The intercession role of the Saints is hatched out of the idea that just as we can ask our fellow human beings to pray for us (Heb. 13:18 & Eph. 6:18-19), so too the Church invokes the saints because they are before God. 13. The scripture is replete with texts which support invoking the saints: “Job, my servant, offers prayers for you. I will listen to him with favor” (Job 42:8-10). Interestingly, Proverbs has this to say: “Yahweh stands far from the wicked, but he listens to the prayer of the virtuous” (Proverbs 15:29). 14. Relaying on their prayerful support, the militant Church enjoys the spiritual patrimony of the Church triumphant: “Remember your former leaders, who spoke God’s message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith (Heb. 13:7). 15. In conclusion, today's celebration calls us to live the lives of the Beatitudes as the gospel (Mt 5:1-12A) mandates. May the Saints intercede for us now and forever. Have a wonderful celebration!
No comments:
Post a Comment