On 1 November the Church does not count a few famous names. She rejoices in the great multitude that no one can number, from every nation, standing before the Lamb. All Saints is the feast of the baptized who have finished the race, known and unknown, not a club of the impressive. Heaven is a communion, not a ranking. Ask today for a holiness that is ordinary enough to be real, and for communion with those who already see what we hope for.
Original – Prayer on Fire.
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Gospel
Mass Lectionary · Gospel
Matthew 5:1–12a
Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him,
and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake:
be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Prayer on Fire Gospel Lesson
This is the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. He sees the crowds, goes up the mountain, and the disciples come to him. The Beatitudes are the first word of the sermon, and the Gospel chosen for All Saints.
Where this sits
All Saints does not read a life of one saint. It reads the description of the life the saints lived. The Church remembers them by hearing what he called blessed.
The blessed
These are not eight tips for a better life. They are a portrait of the kingdom. Poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry for justice, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted. The world calls these the losing positions. He calls them blessed, and he gives the reason each time. The kingdom, comfort, the land, satisfaction, mercy, the sight of God, the name of child.
What to take
The saints are not a different species. They are the ones who took him at his word here. The feast is a summons to this life, not a gallery of other people's holiness.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Gospel of the Day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Mass Lectionary · Gospel
