Cycle A - Year II:

1 November 2020: Solemnity of All Saits

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

Gospel: Please Read Matthew 5:1-12

"The Beatitudes: our path to true happiness!"

We interrupt our observance of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, which falls on a Sunday in 2020.

This day commemorates all the saints, not only those celebrated in the Church's calendar of saints but all the heroic men and women who followed our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully and who have now attained the beatific vision in heaven. A bit of history: Pope Gregory IV established the commemoration of all the saints of the Roman Catholic Church in the year 835.

The Church honors all the saints reigning together for these reasons: to thank God for the graces and crowns of all His saints, to excite ourselves to a fervent imitation of their virtues by considering their holy examples; to implore the divine mercy through this multitude of powerful intercessors; and to glorify God in the saints who are unknown to us or for whom no particular feast days are appointed.

Now bear in mind that on All Saints' Day and in other feast days of the saints, God is the only object of our supreme worship, and the whole of that inferior veneration which is paid to saints is in reality directed to give sovereign honor to God alone. Our addresses to saints are only petitions to holy fellow creatures for the assistance of their prayers to God on our behalf.

Commemoration of All Saints Day in 2020: Traditionally the commemoration of All Saints Day includes visit to our departed loved ones in cemeteries and columbarium . This year is going to be different as government authorities declared closure of these places for the dead as precautionary measure against the spread of the corona virus. Nonetheless, let us pray to all the saints and for our loved ones in our homes on their feast day today.

Short reflection on the Gospel:

The Gospel proclamation on the Sermon on the Mont. or more popularly known as the Beatitudes supports our celebration of All Saints Day.

The word "beatitude" means literally "happiness" or "blessedness" in the context of our search for God's kingdom. What is the significance of the beatitudes, and why are they so central in the teaching of our Lord Jesus?

As we reflect more deeply, we realize that the beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness in every human heart. Because the beatitudes teach us the final end to which God calls us to His kingdom. But the beatitudes also confront us with decisive choices concerning the life we pursue here on earth and the use we make of the goods God puts at our disposal. For in reality, God alone satisfies our longing for happiness, and not material possessions or wealth.

The Beatitudes point the way to God's kingdom. The saints have trodden the path of the beatitudes in their worldly journey. We, too, are called to be holy and to be happy by working for the treasures which can afford us welcome into the heavenly home. For when we follow the way of the Beatitudes, our Lord Jesus Christ promises us, at the conclusion of the Gospel reading,: "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven..." like all the saints who followed our Lord.

A blessed All Saints Day to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!