The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Solemnity of All Saints, invite us to remember the saintly people who lived the Beatitudes and were witness to God is Love.
The reading from the Book of Revelation references the 144,000 Sealed and declares the Triumph of the Elect.
* [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).
* [7:9] White robes,palm branches: symbols of joy and victory; see note on Rev 3:5.
* [7:10] Salvation comes from: literally, “(let) salvation (be ascribed) to.” A similar hymn of praise is found at the fall of the dragon (Rev 12:10) and of Babylon (Rev 19:1).
* [7:14] Time of great distress: fierce persecution by the Romans; cf. Introduction. (Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 24 celebrates the 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.)
The reading from the First Letter of John, declares we are God’s children.
* [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.
* [3:2] When it is revealed: or “when he is revealed” (the subject of the verb could be Christ). (1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with 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.
* [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.)
Eileen Worth comments that pictures of Jesus proclaiming the Beatitudes tend to be sappy but some Beatitudes call for taking risks.
Jesus blesses those who endure insults, persecution and false accusations for his sake and challenges us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. I’ve awarded these pieces to my friend Jane who fought for close relatives that society stigmatized. Her mentally ill sister inspired Jane to start an advocacy group that has become a major local force. She also was active in the Caring Catholic Families group that advocates for the Church to embrace LGBTQ people such as her trans granddaughter. I’m sure Jesus has rewarded her lifetime of making “good trouble” with a spot in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Worth, 2024)
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, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 24:1-6 comments that we proclaim with the psalmist, “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face” (Psalm Response).
“Jesus, our Savior! You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Day and night, the saints worship you! They rejoice because you have clothed them in white robes washed clean by your own precious blood (Revelation 7:14). We struggle and fall, but like the saints, we put our hope in you. We long to behold your glory. Even now, we join them in crying out to you, Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face!
“Holy Spirit, Sanctifier and Helper, you made your saints holy by the fire of your love. By your grace, they were faithful to your call and laid down their lives for your people. Come Spirit, pour your gifts upon us so that, like the saints, we might walk in your ways. Purify our hearts and form us more and more into the image of Jesus. Make us holy, that we might join with your saints and with one voice proclaim,
“Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face!” (Meditation on Psalm 24:1-6, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explains the thousands referenced in the number chosen to receive the seal of the Lamb in Revelations. As the children of God we can come to know that God is love as proclaimed in 1 John. Friar Jude provides an exegesis of the people called “Blessed” in the Beatitudes.
We are “Beatitude People” who pause today to reflect and take example from the “saints” who responded to the direction of the Spirit to live as humble servants in communion with Christ.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?1
Meditation on Psalm 24:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/01/1120484/
1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?1
Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/7?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Rejoice and Be Glad, for Your Reward Is Great in Heaven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov1a
Worth, E. (2024, November 1). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110124.html
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