‘Beloved …’
Today’s feast day is a commemoration of all those women and men whose lives were centred on the Gospel. Their example can inspire us to live like them, rooted always in God’s love.
The First Reading describes part of St John’s vision of a heavenly realm, where people from every age, nation, tribe and culture are united as one in constant joyful praise of God.
The Psalmist sings of a world full of the presence of God. He encourages us to seek the Lord so that we receive God’s abundant blessings.
Our Second Reading is a joyful, encouraging letter of love to the early Christian Church. They (and us now) are addressed as ‘Beloved’. We are reminded of our true nature as God’s children. The writer counsels that the ‘world’ may not recognise this, but this is indeed our reality. This is our faith, and we are called to transform the world by leading lives centred on Gospel values, as did all the saints that we celebrate today.
The Gospel is Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes. Jesus teaches powerful, courageous – and possibly costly – Gospel values. If we choose to live by them, we can begin to realise the kingdom of God on earth.
On this feast, we can take encouragement from knowing that we belong to an eternal community of saints. With them, let us pray as Pilgrims of Hope for all those who are persecuted for expressing their faith in the Gospel.
