The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, the Solemnity of All Saints, challenge us to contemplate the nature of being “Blessed” in our relationship with Christ and the world and how our action confirms our journey as saints.
In the reading from the Book of Revelation the Multitude from Every Nation appears.
* [7:1–17] An interlude of two visions precedes the breaking of the seventh seal, just as two more will separate the sixth and seventh trumpets (Rev 10). In the first vision (Rev 7:1–8), the elect receive the seal of the living God as protection against the coming cataclysm; cf. Rev 14:1; Ez 9:4–6; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30. The second vision (Rev 7:9–17) portrays the faithful Christians before God’s throne to encourage those on earth to persevere to the end, even to death.
* [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). (Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 24 is a prayer 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). (Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the reading from the First Letter of John, we are proclaimed as 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. (1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents the Beatitudes during the Sermon on the Mount.
* [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.
* [5:3] The poor in spirit: in the Old Testament, the poor (’anāwîm) are those who are without material possessions and whose confidence is in God (see Is 61:1; Zep 2:3; in the NAB the word is translated lowly and humble, respectively, in those texts). Matthew added in spirit in order either to indicate that only the devout poor were meant or to extend the beatitude to all, of whatever social rank, who recognized their complete dependence on God. The same phrase poor in spirit is found in the Qumran literature (1QM 14:7).
* [5:4] Cf. Is 61:2, “(The Lord has sent me)…to comfort all who mourn.” They will be comforted: here the passive is a “theological passive” equivalent to the active “God will comfort them”; so also in Mt 5:6, 7.
* [5:5] Cf. Ps 37:11, “…the meek shall possess the land.” In the psalm “the land” means the land of Palestine; here it means the kingdom.
* [5:6] For righteousness: a Matthean addition. For the meaning of righteousness here, see note on Mt 3:14–15.
* [5:8] Cf. Ps 24:4. Only one “whose heart is clean” can take part in the temple worship. To be with God in the temple is described in Ps 42:3 as “beholding his face,” but here the promise to the clean of heart is that they will see God not in the temple but in the coming kingdom.
* [5:10] Righteousness here, as usually in Matthew, means conduct in conformity with God’s will.
* [5:12] The prophets who were before you: the disciples of Jesus stand in the line of the persecuted prophets of Israel. Some would see the expression as indicating also that Matthew considered all Christian disciples as prophets. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mike Cherney comments that the commandments of the Old Testament are a clear set of rules, the vast majority of which tell one what specifically to avoid. They present very little difficulty for a materialistic society, Roman or modern. They place few constraints on those self-centered individuals who are prone to take advantage of others.
I can picture the shock and dismay of the disciples as Jesus presents the Beatitudes. This message that elevates the poor, the sad, the meek, and the merciful seems to invert the social order. I find it interesting that Jesus goes up the mountain, away from the crowds when he delivers this (what I find to be enigmatic) message. Although I have heard these passages many times, this is the first time I noticed that it was not delivered to the masses. (This prompted me to look at the Sermon on the Plain in Luke’s Gospel. There, it was also given to the disciples rather than the crowds.) It strikes me that this is the text for All Saints Day. This is the message guiding me toward salvation, guiding me toward the beatific vision. (Cherney, 2023)
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) (Schwager, 2019)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 comments that responding to the gift of salvation, day in and day out, is what made the saints holy. And it’s what prepares us to join the heavenly host. But it’s not easy. The saints in our first reading were faithful to Christ to the point of martyrdom, washing their robes in the “Blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). For our part, our response to God might be to turn from a deeply-rooted pattern of sin, to stay faithful when we’re tempted, or to give more of ourselves than we might think we can.
As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Holiness is not the luxury of a few, but a simple duty for you and me.” Let’s set our sights on that great multitude that cannot be counted. Let’s do everything we can to be faithful so that, with God’s grace, we can become saints!
“Almighty God, you have invited me to be part of the heavenly host. Help me respond to your invitation today and every day.” (Meditation on Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the connection of the seal in Revelation to Ezekiel and the Hebrew Tau for observant Jews to be connected to the Law. The 144,000 number is symbolic of the tribes of Israel and the Apostles multiplied a 1000 times over. Friar Jude reminds us of how poverty of spirit, humility, mourning, single mindedness, and suffering are paths to being blessed.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Potawatomi author Kaitlin Curtice who invites us to consider how we pray in, for, and with nature.
Growing up in the Baptist tradition, I heard little mention of communicating with God through the earth. On Sundays, we would often hear sermons about how prayer is something we should just try harder at, instead of something we enter into. When I began to pray in Potawatomi, I understood something different about prayer—that it is a holistic act that involves all of me, and all of the creatures around me, communing with God.
If we truly believe that God surrounds us, we believe that prayer is an everyday experience of being alive…. When you step outside and engage with the world in quiet listening, prayer will happen, and it will take on its own way of being for you. Perhaps prayer is just poetry, and we are living the expressions of what it means to be human. This is why Creator gave us gifts to remember.… When I burn sage or lay tobacco down, I know that I am tethered to a love that has remained steady throughout the centuries and that always calls me back to its own sacredness. And that sacredness will always lead me back out to the world to do the work of love. (Rohr, 2023)
We move from the activity of “All Hallow’s Eve” to consider the piety, study, and action that move us to live in the pattern of All Saints who embrace the message of Jesus in the Beatitudes.
References
Cherney, M. (2023, November 1). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110123.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?1
Meditation on Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/01/819093/
1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?1
Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/7?2
Rohr, R. (2023, November 1). Our Natural Ancestors — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/our-natural-ancestors/
Schwager, D. (2019, March 9). Rejoice and Be Glad, for Your Reward Is Great in Heaven. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov1a
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