The Catholic Calendar for Monday, November 1, 2004
Solemnity of All Saints

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Revelation 7:2-4,9-14
Psalm 24:1-6
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Our celebration of the solemnity of All Saints is a very strong reminder for us. It honors the saints, who persevered against evil and lived their lives faithfully according to the Gospel. Their example is encouragement for each of us to redouble our own efforts to live the teaching of Jesus, that we too, may be counted among those who praise the Lord in the company of all those saints gathered around His throne.

We are also encouraged by a strong scriptural basis for this in the Book of Revelation: "I saw before me a huge crowd which no one could count, from every nation and race, people and tongue." (Rev 8:9)

Our problem is that the temptations for modern humanity are replete with every devious scheme that the devil can subtly place in our paths. For us to become a member of that great number of saints, we must be sure that we're listening to, AND living, the message of the Gospel and the recommendations of the Vicar of Christ, our pope.

Let us carefully review our attitudes, our spiritual position, compared with the Beatitudes given us by Jesus:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
the sorrowing,
the lowly,
those who hunger for holiness,
those who show mercy,
the single-hearted,
the peacemakers,
those who are insulted and persecuted for holiness' sake.

Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven; they persecuted the prophets before you in the very same way. (Matt. 5:3ff)

- Joachim

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posted by joachim at 4:51 AM