Solemnity of All Saints
Today is a tremendous feast: today the Church celebrates the lives of all those who came to Jesus, who strove to enter through the narrow gate. These great men and women, of all nations, all walks of life, young and old, religious and lay: they are victorious and enjoy the peace of God’s Kingdom, worshipping Him and praying for us.
In each saint’s story there is at least one definitive moment in which they chose to come to Jesus, a moment in which turning toward Him meant turning away from the world. For St. Ignatius, it was the moment he decided to go to Montserrat and forsake his wealth and family, to give his entire life over to God. For St. Isaac Jogues it was to return to the New World even after having barely escaped with his life, to continue preaching the Gospel. For St. Kateri Tekakwitha it was to turn away from some of the traditions of her people to dedicate herself more and more to Christ, ultimately to the point of leaving her village. For St. Gianna Beretta Molla, it was to choose life for her unborn child, even at the risk—and ultimately the cost—of her own life. For so many martyrs it was either to forsake their faith in Christ and live, or stay true to Christ and die. Over and over throughout the ages saints have risen from the most unlikely of places, and each one was born in that crucial moment of decision: to come to Christ, or to turn away from Him. To heed His call, or ignore it.
How many of our cities are named in their honor? How many of them have had an effect on the whole world? St. John Paul II, Mother Theresa, St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier: and of course, the greatest of all the saints, Mary the Mother of God. All of them show us that the life which Christ demands of us is possible for any human being whatsoever, so long as one chooses to faithfully and courageously follow Christ.Today in our Gospel, He tells us what that looks like.
Read the story of any saint and you will notice they are poor in spirit, detached from the things the world lauds as valuable; consider St. Francis Borgia, or St. Elizabeth of Hungary. They mourn and endure tremendous trials, seeking their comfort only in God; consider Mother Theresa and her years of spiritual darkness, or St. John of the Cross. They are meek and humble; consider St. Bernadette Soubirous, or St. Jean Vianney. They hunger and thirst for righteousness, striving in all things to live a holy life; consider St. Thérèse of Lisieux, or St. Benedict. They show mercy to all, even to their greatest enemies; consider St. Maria Goretti, or Pope St. John Paul II. They are clean of heart, single-hearted in their love for God; consider St. Gemma Galgani, or St. Francis of Assisi. They are peacemakers; consider St. Isaac Jogues, or St. Catherine of Sienna. They are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; consider St. Oscar Romero, or St. Joan of Arc. They are insulted and persecuted because of their love for Jesus; consider St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, or St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross.
So many saints; thousands upon thousands. Their lives bear witness to the Beatitudes, but also bear witness to the promise each makes: a Kingdom, comfort, an inheritance, satisfaction, mercy, the beatific vision, adoption, and a great reward in Heaven. Let us strive to follow Christ after their example: let all of us be saints.