1 November 2021: Solemnity of All Saints
(Liturgical Color: White)
Reflection for All Saints Day
(Suggested short meditation on the Word of God for lay people, from nickisip.blogspot.com
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Cycle B - Year I
Readings:
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel: Please Read Matthew 5:1-12
We glorify God through His saints!
We interrupt our observance of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1.
It was Pope Gregory IV who established the Commemoration of All the Saints of the Catholic Church in the year 835. 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.
This day is a celebration of holiness, the working of the Holy Spirit bearing fruit in human beings throughout the world and throughout time. The saints serve as our companions and models in the journey of faith and in the body of Christ.
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 and reflecting on 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 saints, the object of our supreme worship is God only, 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 2021: Our traditional observance of All Saints' Day includes visit to our departed loved ones in cemeteries and columbarium. Because of the pandemic, civil authorities may declare closure of these places for the dead as precautionary measure against the spread of the corona virus. Listen to the pronouncements of your specific Local Government Unit. 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 is from St. Matthew on the Beatitudes. 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. The beatitudes also confront us with decisive choices concerning the life we pursue here on earth and the use we make of the goods which 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.
To conclude our reflection for this day, All Saints' Day is the perfect time to pray to all the holy men and women, asking for their intercession for the conversion of sinners, so that we might all become SAINTS! Amen.
A Blessed All Saints' Day to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Ad Jesum per Mariam!
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