All Saints - First November, 2020
(EPISODE: 258)
Readings for
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 23:1-6 "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face."
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28 Come to me all you that labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1- 12
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 149568645. Minsk, Belarus - June, 2019. Ceiling in the Church of All Saints with fresco paintings of all saints. By TRMK
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for All Saints - First November, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-all-saints-episode-258
(EPISODE: 258)
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* Prologue: This feast began in the East to commemorate all martyrs and was progressively adopted in the West. Celebrated on this day in the eighth century and soon widely observed. Honoured today are all holy men and women in glory with Christ: known or unknown, mighty or lowly, all whose lives were modelled on the Beatitudes and on the great commandment of love.
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FEAST of ALL SAINTS – YEAR A – 2020
In a case of being in the right place at the right time, I have been privileged to shake the hand of one man and have a brief conversation with a woman, both of whom have been declared saints by the Church. The man was Saint John Paul II and the woman Saint Theresa of Calcutta. While it was a feeling of great honour and joy, I can remember thinking how much they looked like ordinary people. Had they not been surrounded by crowds of adoring people they could have been simple old people that we pass in the street every day. Maybe I was expecting holiness to radiate from them or that some faint halo might have indicated that they were elevated above the rest of humanity, but NO, they were clearly just flesh and bones, stooped and a little confused about all the fuss that was going on around them.
What I have now come to understand about what made them different, was that they were people who had come to know what it was like to live the Beatitudes of today's Gospel. Rather than striving to be blessed, they sought to do the actions that they believed would bring them the promise of being great in the sight of God. Maybe someone like them had shown them what was necessary for a fulfilled life when they were young. Someone who shone a light on life for them the same way they were doing that for millions who watched and listened them now.
While it may be a source of great honour for those declared saints by the Church, one thing is very clear. No one sets out to become a saint, and they will never know, in this life the glory of that declaration. Rather they will certainly know the sacrifice that is necessary in living a truthful compassionate life.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was sixty-two years old when a Jesuit priest friend of his was killed, dying in his arms. It was a moment of conversion. From being a safe bishop, he saw the needs of the poor in his diocese and from that point spoke powerfully for them. He was killed by an assassin's bullet while saying Mass in a Carmelite convent in San Salvador. He saw the basic thrust of his life as an immersion in the life of his people, especially the poor, becoming a saint by his action. Heaven for him was an expansion and fulfilment of that involvement, 'I will for justice for the Salvadorian people, even if they kill me.' The saint does not escape from life, but dares to hope for a deeper and more intense belonging to the world and its history. It is a hope inspired by love, by a life poured out, encouraging us to do the same.
Mind you, saint are not always happy people to live with or around. Oscar Wilde, the Irish playwright said, the only difference between a saint and a sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. The American Cardinal Cushing declared that saints are all right in heaven, but they're hell on earth.
The saint takes the wealth of Christianity and puts it within the covers of a life - inserts it into time and place. As Therese of Liseux discovered, we do not do this alone. We have a cloud of witnesses cheering us on, the Communion of Saints, who have already covered the distance and encourage us to keep going.
St Teresa of Avila died over 400 years ago, a great contemplative and mystic, lived a strict Carmelite rule. She had a relationship with God which allowed her to speak freely to him. Once going on a trip, she prayed for a safe journey. It was full of mishaps and accidents. She complained. God replied, 'But Teresa, you know this is how I treat all my friends. 'Yes, she said, and that's why you have so few of them!'
All Saints: All those who now know the joy is seeing God face to face. Saints come in all sizes and shapes, all colours and genders, but in this life and in the Kingdom, they have a common quality, not goodness, which can often make them boring, but a quality of transparency, meeting them you can see through them to something more. Saints are people whose life constantly says - But there's more!
In the lives of those who shared our humanity and yet were transformed into especially successful images of Christ, God vividly manifests to us His presence and His face. He speaks to us in them, and gives us a sign of His Kingdom, to which we are powerfully drawn... Saints are attractive people.
Like stained glass, Saints are people who let the light shine through. Not odd or bizarre people, not necessarily people of great achievements or abilities. We have all met saints, in our families, parishes and the community.
Growing up we are influenced by the actions and personalities of others. Parents, older brothers and sisters influence the way we speak, act, and dress. Little brothers and sisters need big brothers and sisters. Favourite uncles, legendary grandparents whose names and deeds cast a spell. As a family grows that influence exerts a strong force for good. Families of peoples (nations) have their folk heroes or founding ancestors. They are teachers who show us how to put the burdens of life in perspective, and how to carry on in the face of adversity. The example of others can lighten our own burdens. Encourage us when we feel weak and defeated. When the church singles out a person as holy - she wants to teach us something about ourselves. Every saint's life is a witness to Christ, showing us how Gospel can believed. Not an ideal beyond our reach, but others, like us who have met Christ and had the strength to walk with him.
It is no accident that All Saints day is so connected to All Souls Day, since we can all recall the saints of our own families. Those people who we will always recognise as the ones who lifted our lives to another level, and made us understand that not only is life great, but we are blessed people, because we are connected to them and God.
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References:
Fr Peter Dillon. Homily
Prologue by Fr Paul Kelly, (Ref. Liturgy Brisbane)
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 149568645. Minsk, Belarus - June, 2019. Ceiling in the Church of All Saints with fresco paintings of all saints. By TRMK
All Saints (First November, 2020) (EPISODE: 258 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
Lord have Mercy
Christ Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy
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Memorial Acclamation
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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all saints PREFACE
Euch prayer two
Communion side. pwk: RH
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Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
[ Production - KER - 2020]
May God bless and keep you.
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