The gift is holiness for the journey

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Solemnity of All Saints are rich in content about the nature of Christian Love. Robert Heaney looks at the nature of Christian saints who are called to journey to holiness. The vivid images in the visions presented in the passage from the Book of Revelation graphically proclaim the sanctity of those who have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Frair Jude Winkler describes the deep links from the liturgy today to the Hebrew Testament and how we get so much more from these words in the light of the traditions in which they were crafted. Our path to become poor in spirit, meek, peacemakers, clean of thought and merciful will involve mourning and persecution which Friar Jude and Robert Heaney remind us is the experience of the children of God who share the cross of Christ. In our present reality, we experience Love. The ambiguity, mercilessness, hatred and turmoil of life are the obstacles which Love overcomes. Christians understand that all Love is Divine and when we are following Love we are on the journey are being washed in the Blood of the Lamb.