The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Solemnity of All Saints resonate with contemplation of our place as children of God.
Blessed in the Kingdom https://t.co/1NgIpmSCuQ pic.twitter.com/aNEwSsEC13— Dave Macpherson (@davmacit) November 1, 2019
In the reading from the Book of Revelation the multitude from every nation proclaim how they have been washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb.
* [7:4–9] One hundred and forty-four thousand: the square of twelve (the number of Israel’s tribes) multiplied by a thousand, symbolic of the new Israel (cf. Rev 14:1–5; Gal 6:16; Jas 1:1) that embraces people from every nation, race, people, and tongue (Rev 7:9).1
Psalm 24 is part of ceremony for entrance into the Temple.
* [Psalm 24] The Psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the Temple. The Temple commemorated the creation of the world (Ps 24:1–2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Ps 24:3–6; cf. Ps 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very Temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Ps 24:7–10).2
In the First Letter of John we are proclaimed true children of God.
* [3:1–3] The greatest sign of God’s love is the gift of his Son (Jn 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.3
The Gospel of Matthew takes us to Jesus Sermon on the Mount and blessings of the Beatitudes.
* [5:3–12] The form Blessed are (is) occurs frequently in the Old Testament in the Wisdom literature and in the psalms. Although modified by Matthew, the first, second, fourth, and ninth beatitudes have Lucan parallels (Mt 5:3 // Lk 6:20; Mt 5:4 // Lk 6:21b; Mt 5:6 // Lk 6:21a; Mt 5:11–12 // Lk 5:22–23). The others were added by the evangelist and are probably his own composition. A few manuscripts, Western and Alexandrian, and many versions and patristic quotations give the second and third beatitudes in inverted order.4
Andy Alexander, S.J. notes that today we have the Beatitudes for our reflection. We have to let the beatitudes be the counter-cultural "good news" that they are.
When we find that our heart has known God's mercy for our sins and has been purified by all the pain and wounds we have received, and we can offer forgiveness and mercy to others, actually becoming a peacemaker, then we are ready for a special blessedness. Mercy will remain in our hearts and we will become children of God who can see our God face to face.5
Gerald O’Mahony SJ, a retreat-giver at Loyola Hall Jesuit Spirituality Centre, Rainhill, author of many books, including A Way into the Trinity (2004), offers a survey of the Beatitudes connecting them to many Gospel passages and summarizing our response in a few lines.
- let go of merits;
- trust God in times of sorrow;
- sit lightly to possessions;
- keep on trying to be good;
- don't judge anybody;
- love God in return with all your heart;
- take pride in being God's son or daughter;
- take persecution in your stride.6
Don Schwager quotes “Perfect blessedness is humility of spirit,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' The Lord taught by way of example that the glory of human ambition must be left behind when he said, 'The Lord your God shall you adore and him only shall you serve' (Matthew 4:10). And when he announced through the prophets that he would choose a people humble and in awe of his words [Isaiah 66:2], he introduced the perfect Beatitude as humility of spirit. Therefore he defines those who are inspired as people aware that they are in possession of the heavenly kingdom... Nothing belongs to anyone as being properly one's own, but all have the same things by the gift of a single parent. They have been given the first things needed to come into life and have been supplied with the means to use them." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 4.2)7
The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 comments that St. Thomas Aquinas once said that grace is “nothing else but a certain beginning of glory within us” (Summa Theologiae, II–II.24.3).What might this grace look like?
- A moment of grace to move beyond a resentment and take active steps to seek healing of a strained relationship.
- A moment of grace to rejoice in seeing God at work in your life and to share that joy with someone else.
- A moment of grace to recognize an area of weakness or sin and start the hard work of changing ingrained habits.
- A moment of grace to interrupt your own life in order to take care of an ailing relative or a friend in need.
Each moment you say yes to grace adds to God’s glory in your life. Each step of trust, faith, or obedience brings you closer to the full glory God wants you to experience with him in heaven.8
It’s this glory that we’re celebrating today on All Saints Day—the glory that all the saints in heaven are enjoying right now. Friar Jude Winkler explores the Hebrew symbolism in Revelation that calls more than can be counted to the Glory of God. Matthew, parallels Moses and Jesus with the “new commandments” of the Beatitudes. Friar Jude reminds us of the basic qualities of humility, surrender and compassion recommended to us in the Beatitudes.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, observes that practical, practice-based Christianity has been avoided, denied, minimized, ignored, delayed, and sidelined for too many centuries, by too many Christians who were never told Christianity was anything more than a belonging or belief system. He cites Quaker pastor Philip Gulley who superbly summarizes how we must rebuild spirituality from the bottom up in his book, “If the Church Were Christian.” [3] Fr. Richard takes the liberty of using his own words to restate Gulley’s message, which offers a rather excellent description of what is emerging in Christianity today.
- Jesus is a model for living more than an object of worship.
- Affirming people’s potential is more important than reminding them of their brokenness.
- The work of reconciliation should be valued over making judgments.
- Gracious behavior is more important than right belief.
- Inviting questions is more valuable than supplying answers.
- Encouraging the personal search is more important than group uniformity.
- Meeting actual needs is more important than maintaining institutions.
- Peacemaking is more important than power.
- We should care more about love and less about sex.
- Life in this world is more important than the afterlife (Eternity is God’s work anyway).9
The counter cultural challenge of living the Beatitudes is assisted by our reliance on the Spirit to guide us in those practices that reveal our status as children of God.
References
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