‘Beloved: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God …’
Today’s feast is an occasion for great thanksgiving, honouring all the saints, both known and unknown, who offer us memories and models of holiness. We, too, are called to holiness; to be saints. The Communion of Saints prays for us, willing us on to join them.
We can try to do this by following the message and example of Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospel. Here Jesus teaches the disciples God’s law in a new way. His values and attitudes, summed up in the Beatitudes, are a map comprised of eight different paths. By following them, we align our lives with the heart of God and ‘holiness’.
The First Reading gives us a vision of heaven. Those who belong to the Lord are marked with a seal and kept safe, ‘an innumerable number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages’.
In the Second Reading, John addresses us as ‘beloved’, reminding us that we are children of God. Although today’s world may misunderstand God’s Way, we are promised eternal life when we will see God as he is.
The Psalmist sings of the created world and all dwelling in it. Those who seek the Lord’s face with clean hands and a pure heart will receive his blessing.
On this feast, let’s pray for all those persecuted for their faith; for those suffering injustice; and for those affected by any form of violence.
