Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1): Homily by Fr Isaac
Theme: Following the footsteps of our brothers and sisters in heaven
Readings: Rev 7:2–4,9–14; 1 Jn 3:1–3; Mt 5:1–12a
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the feast of all saints is a very important feast in the life and faith of the church. It is a feast that assures us that our hope of inheriting a better home in paradise after this earthly exile is not in vain; it assures us of the reality of heaven. The reason for this great assurance of faith is because this feast tells us that the heavenly home and its beatific vision, which we are looking forward to, have already been reached by some of our brothers and sisters. The feast of All Saints tells us that God has already rewarded some people with that gift for which we are making efforts to live good lives. It tells us that the heavenly race has been completed by some people and that they have been rewarded with a share in the glory of God. Thus, no one can tell us anymore that heaven is not real; no one can discourage us in this heavenly race.
In the first reading of today, John had a vision of one hundred and forty-four thousand people from the twelve tribes of Israel sitting before the throne of God. Then, he also saw a great number of other people, who are impossible to count, from all over the world enjoying the beatific vision in heaven. He said: “And I heard the number of those who were signed with the seal: a hundred and forty-four thousand signed, from every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, tribes, peoples and tongues. All stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wrapped in white robes, and held palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” This was the great vision of the glory of the heavenly home revealed to John.
So, the feast of today tells us that some of the people we knew and many others that we never knew have entered the glorious home of God, sharing in His glory. It tells us that the people in heaven are not aliens nor superhumans; rather, they are those who lived in the same house with us, ate the same food with us, travelled on the same road with us, watched the same television and cinema with us, faced the same good and bad weather conditions with us, wore the same clothes like us, and did many other things in common with us. So, if people who faced the same good and bad condition of the world with us have been able to make it to heaven, we can also make it. Among these our brothers and sisters in heaven are people of different categories of life. Some of them were very rich, while some were very poor; some were very beautiful, while some were very ugly; some died as virgins, while some lived immoral life for many years before they repented; some were very intelligent, while some were weak intellectually; some were hot tempered, while some were calm and gentle; some were old, while some were very young; some suffered persecutions, while some did not. In all, these people did not allow their earthly endowments and deficiencies, their strength, and weaknesses, their advantages and problems to deny them the heavenly home; rather they made honest efforts by making heaven their ultimate goal. They allowed the grace of God to triumph in their lives. This is the challenge the feast of today is giving all Christians. Let us make heaven our ultimate goal despite our challenges and advantages in life.
How, then, are we going to make heaven our ultimate goal? What steps are we to take? The gospel of today came to our assistance. With the beatitudes, it opens to us the steps that led our brothers and sisters we are celebrating today into heaven, the paths they took to heaven. The gospel of today contains the principles that guided the lives and footsteps of these our brothers and sisters we are celebrating today. So, what the saints did that led them to heaven is not rocket science; it is something within our reach. The gospel mentioned some of the principles that guided the lives of the saints while they were on earth and proclaimed them blessed, thereby inviting us to emulate them. They are these: being poor in spirit, being meek, having hunger for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, accepting persecutions for the sake of Christ and for the sake of righteousness. Let us use these heavenly principles to re-examine the way we are living our lives today.
Peace be with you. Happy Feast Day
Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima