Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints
Theme: The glory that awaits the righteous
By: Fr. Francis Onwunali
Today, the Holy Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints: those canonized or beatified, and the great multitude from divergent background and make-ups, who are enjoying beatific vision in heaven as the first reading tells us (Rev. 7: 2-4, 9-14).
This celebration highlights the glory that awaits those who, living true to their Christain calling, had borne witness to Jesus and His Gospel with their lives. This is made possible by God who first loved us and adopted us in Christ as His sons and daughters (1Jn 3: 1-3).
This heavenly glory can begin here on earth if we follow the guidlines given in the Beatitudes by Jesus Christ (Matt 5: 1-12). The beatitudes are a sign of contradiction to the world’s understanding of joy and happiness. How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning and persecution? In poverty of spirit, hunger of the spirit and mourning over wasted life and sin, we are led to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. For Thomas Aquinas: “No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures.”
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Dear friends, we all are called to holiness. Living holy life grants us a share in the Communion of Saints, since being grafted in Christ, the source of holiness, we are one with the saints.
I pray as we journey in life today, our beliefs and actions will be signs of our acceptance of God’s gift of holiness. May the excitement of being part of this “Communion” lead us to greater appreciation of God’s love for us. Have an excitement-full day and Happy New Month!
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