This Saturday we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. In the Gospel reading Jesus gives his first major sermon, called the “Sermon on the Mount” with an outline of the “Beatitudes” – the values of the Kingdom of God and all God’s saints. To be a saint is to be “holy”, that is, set apart (consecrated) for God. All Christians are called to be holy, by God’s grace. In his Sermon, Jesus teaches about the “blessedness” of the saints, living out God’s Kingdom reality with these heavenly spiritual attitudes in their hearts: poverty of spirit, mourning for a broken world, meekness, a longing for righteousness, mercy, a pure heart, and peacemaking. Jesus concludes with a call to rejoice, even in persecution for one's faith, as the reward in heaven is great. These values run completely counter to today’s values. But if we pray to the Father, as we are invited to (Matthew 7), we too can hope to become saints and imitate Jesus. We too can strive as best we can to be perfect in love, “as our Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
The important thing to remember about God’s call to holiness is that it is not a one-time achievement but about a lifelong goal of becoming more like God. Jesus invites us to continually strive for spiritual maturity. It is not about self-sufficiency, but an invitation to seek God's help. Essentially, it is about loving one’s enemies and being merciful to others, reflecting God’s mercy – in a word, glorifying his mercy. God wants our happiness. We are designed for joy in Jesus and to be in relationship with him. Far from a list of obligations, the Beatitudes are a path to true, lasting happiness that comes from heaven in a sincere relationship with God, not from early status or possessions. The starting point, poverty in spirit, involves humility and acknowledging one's need for God, leading to an opening of the heart to receive God's grace and comfort. All saints have walked this path in the imitation of Christ. May their faithful witness encourage and convince us that the way of Beatitude, in total trust of God, is the surest way to heaven.
