LET US SING THE SONG OF VICTORY WITH ALL THE SAINTS

THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS - Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14

We start the month of November with two great feasts, remembering and celebrating those who have gone before us. On the first of November, we give thanks and praise to God, for all who already share in his glory. On the second, praying for All Souls, we are made aware that salvation is always a gift of God’s mercy and love. By ourselves, we are sinful people, and can never achieve total holiness, ready to enter God’s kingdom. That’s why we entrust our dead to the mercy of God. 

Throughout the year, we dedicate a special day to special saints, who are presented to us by the Church as role models in the discipleship of Jesus Christ. They were sinners like all of us, but by God’s grace they lived their lives guided by the Spirit, thus being transformed in the image of Jesus Christ.

All of us are called to be saints. This call was already presented to the people of Israel:  

“You shall be holy, 

for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Lev 19:2)

The same call was repeated by Jesus:

“Be perfect, therefore, 

as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)

This call is like a commandment, and we may say that it is an impossible commandment, because it is one which we will never be able to fulfil on our own. And that is so because to be perfect like the Father is far beyond our power, no matter how much we try. But the command stands, to remind us that, in the end, that perfection will be bestowed on us, as we will be made a new creation in the image of Jesus Christ. For that perfection, Jesus is the way, the only way that will take us to the Father. We must become disciples of Jesus Christ, learning from him and following in his footsteps. To be saints, each one of us has to make a daily effort to be more like Jesus, knowing that he is the one taking us by the hand and opening the gates of heaven for us.

We may ask: Who are those saints we are celebrating today? They are all those whose names we don’t know, the myriads upon myriads that have been forgotten, but are in the presence of God, rejoicing in his love and his glory. According to the parable of the last judgement, Jesus will use only one rule to judge humanity, the rule of mercy and compassion, that is we will be judged by the care and concern for the ones we meet in our daily lives (Mt 25:31ff). All those who have shown care and concern for the others will be welcome in his kingdom. The gates of heaven will be open to those who opened their hearts to others.

The book of Revelation describes the great gathering of all those who are saved for the song of victory:

“I saw a huge number, 

impossible to count, 

of people from every nation, 

race, tribe and language; 

they were standing in front of the throne 

and in front of the Lamb, 

dressed in white robes 

and holding palms in their hands.

They shouted aloud, 

“Victory to our God, 

who sits on the throne, 

and to the Lamb!” 

And all the angels who were standing 

in a circle round the throne, 

surrounding the elders 

and the four animals, 

prostrated themselves before the throne, 

and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, 

“Amen. Praise and glory 

and wisdom and thanksgiving 

and honour and power 

and strength to our God 

for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 7:9-12)

In our liturgy, we join this immense crowd and sing together with them the praises of God. We are part of that crowd, still walking here on earth until we will join them in heaven. With All the Saints we sing the song of victory: Amen! Alleluia!