
Solemnity of All Saints (Homily)
November 01, 2015 5:00 pm · Sergio Muñoz Fita

Today, the Church joyful remembers all of the faithful who, having persevered until the end and having washed themselves in the Blood of the Lamb (as we read in the first reading), have reached their destination and live, forever, in glory with God. On this solemnity, the power and love of God shines in a very special way on His children: the Lord was not willing that death should have the last word, so by His Resurrection, He has given us the wings to be able to reach Heaven; to live and reign with Him eternally; to love God and to be loved by God; to reach that happiness that we are all searching for and that only the Lord can give.
We recall today not only the Saints who have been canonized by the Church but also that “great multitude” of people whose steadfast life of faith has been found pleasing to God. and who now live with Him forever. This is a day of great hope for those of us who are still walking through this “valley of tears”, and it reason enough to persevere on in the journey. They help us to understand that sainthood is possible. That it is possible that we, like them, are also called to be Saints. If we could only see what the Lord has prepared for us! If we only knew the marvelous work that God wants to perform in us, and through us! If we would only realize that Jesus desires with all of His heart to enter into ours and to change the darkness into light, the sadness into joy, our smallness into greatness. our death into life!
In the Gospel Jesus spoke about the Beatitudes, which are. in fact. the Lord’s self-portrait. and which offer us the possibility of living in a new world; where the poor in spirit are rich, because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; where those who mourn are consoled, because God is their consolation; where those who hunger for righteousness are satisfied, because Jesus is never outdone in generosity; and finally, where those who are persecuted or despised for the Lord are happy, because their joy is to love Jesus. A Saint is the one who embodies these Beatitudes in their ordinary life; the one who cooperates with God’s grace to practice them. And this is important: God does not only give us an incomparable happiness in eternity. The Saint is much happier here and now, because their entire life is Jesus; and only Jesus is that joy. The Saints remind us what our final purpose is. That God has created us for Him. St. Augustine said, “How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that my soul may live, for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life from you.”
Finally, today’s celebration - and the horizon of glory which opens up before our eyes - encourages us to endure with strength the crosses and setbacks that the Lord puts on our shoulders during this life. In fact, now is the time of the test: today, there are sufferings, illnesses, the loss of loved ones, tears of the heart, persecutions and slander; but one day, if you are faithful, Jesus Himself will dry your tears and will console you. For that reason, be joyful. The sufferings of this lifetime end, but Jesus remains forever. St. Teresa of Jesus used to say, “the struggle will not last long, but the outcome will be eternal.”
May all the Saints, especially the Virgin Mary, serve as models of how to live our lives. If we can follow their example, one day we will find ourselves, with them and all of our loved ones in Heaven; where we will be in the likeness of God, because we will see Him just as He is, forever and ever. Amen.