The 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time this year coincides with the feast of All Saints. Today we celebrate the members of the Church who have finished their course and now are in the presence of God. We believe that they continue to intercede for us as we also intercede for the needs of the world. The saints are the works of God's grace, His mercy shows through them. And we remember them today because we hope that one day we too would be with them. Read this article and use the following as your guide for reflection.
1. "I believe in the communion of saints", we declare in the creed. We say so because we believe that the three dimensions of the Church: the Church Triumphant, Church Suffering and the Church Militant (the people we see with our eyes gathered during Sundays) share whatever good that it receives from the Lord. As the members of the first Church in Jerusalem were so united that no one among them was in need, so too, even today the members who have gone before us to the presence of the Lord, those still waiting for the period of their purification to be completed and we ourselves still on pilgrimage on earth and battling against sin, continue to communicate with one another.
Reflect. Today is All Saints' Day. We remember the nameless saints who have finished the period of purgation to be in the presence of God and continue to intercede for us that we too may be with them in that Sabbath without sunset. Perhaps one of them is related to you? The bonds -- more than our blood, that of the blood of Christ and our participation in the one baptism -- that we had on earth continue to hold us together in heaven. What relevance to your life do you see in the declaration: "I believe in the communion of saints"?
2. The Beatitudes that the Lord pronounces over those who listen to his Sermon on the Mount are also for us. It is an invitation and a challenge to see whether we ourselves are poor in spirit, meek, hungering and thirsting for justice, peacemakers ...
Reflect. The groups of people whom the Lord mentions in his beatitudes are actually characteristics of those who wish to follow him. They are the ones who so live their baptism that they have become outcasts in a world that would not recognize the Lord and continue to reject Him. Would you consider yourself one those whom the Lord calls "blessed"? Explain your answer.
3. In the Preface for All Saints' Day, we pray
Today we keep the festival of your holy city
the heavenly Jerusalem Our Mother.
Around your throne, the saints our brothers and sisters
sing your praise forever.
Their glory fills us with joy,
and their communion with us in your Church
gives us inspiration and strength
as we hasten on our pilgrimage of faith, eager to meet them.
Reflect. How do you see yourself as a member of the family of saints?
