Solemnity of All Saints
Illustrations of Jesus smiling with friends around him in a meadow on a sunny day are appealing. Images of saints with serene faces clothed in light while serving others are inspiring. I am sure that such scenes actually happened.
The Beatitudes, blessings spoken by Jesus, actually happened, too. But these paint a slightly different picture. We are told that it is a blessing to be poor in spirit. Those who mourn are blessed. Those are blessed who stand up against the unjust status quo. The warmth and comfort of Jesus and the saints felt in the scenes mentioned above are not present in these “blessings”.
“All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation” (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). No doubt they had sunny days and were clothed in light. No doubt they had more than one of “those days” that seem to never end.
The saints were able to “rejoice and be glad” through these trials because their hearts were in the right place. May we be so blessed.
Reflection by Br. Jacob Kubajak, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections