Today we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints. The saints are all those in heaven. They passed through this world, are purified in the saving blood of Christ, and are clothed in glory in God’s kingdom. We are celebrating the communion of Saints, and we are reminded that the whole aim of our life on earth is to be counted among the saints in heaven on the last day. The readings remind us that we are children of God, called to become saints and to share in the joy of His Kingdom.
In the first reading, John saw a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne of God. Clothed in white robes, they worshipped God. These are people who have come through great suffering and have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. Their lives might not have been easy, but they remained faithful to Christ till the end and are now clothed in God’s glory.
In the second reading, St John reminded us that we are already children of God. That is because God loves us first. We are invited into a special relationship with Him: to be like Him who we see as He really is. To see God (who is love) is to love Him who loves us, and be like Him in the world.
Those who are like God and live the life of Christ are called blessed and holy. Thus, in the gospel reading, Jesus proclaimed the Beatitude: the blessedness of those who are living by the principles of the heavenly kingdom – the blessedness of the poor in spirit, the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for doing what is right. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven – theirs is sainthood.
How are we practising these principles to be counted among the saints? That is a question we answer for ourselves individually. However, being a saint does not mean never making mistakes; rather, it means allowing God to change us, getting up when we fall, seeking forgiveness, and continuing to follow Christ every day. Sainthood is our goal: let us keep pursuing it because that is when we become the person God created us to be.