All Saints Day – Homily
All Saints
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a
November 1, 2023
Do you want to be a saint?
The first saints were all martyrs.
They sacrificed their earthly lives for their faith. The martyrs become powerful witnesses to the faith. They serve as inspiration for us. Their faith was publicly known and we venerate them for the example they are for us.
Over time the Church’s understanding of saints expanded to include all those we believe to be in Heaven.
By the 7th century, the Church had come to speak of three types of martyrdom, red (what we normally think of as martyrdom, the giving of one’s early life), white, and green (see “3 Types of Martyrdom That Lead to a Heavenly Reward” by Philip Kosloski, 10/31/17, online at https://aleteia.org/2017/10/31/3-types-of-martyrdom-that-lead-to-a-heavenly-reward).
White martyrdom involves making great sacrifices for our faith but without dying. I only learned of the “green martyrdom” yesterday. Kosloski writes, “Green martyrdom consists in this, that by means of fasting and labor he frees himself from his evil desires, or suffers toil in penance and repentance.”
How much are you willing to sacrifice for your faith?
We are marked with the Sign of the Cross on our forehead at Baptism, an indelible mark is placed on us as we are made children of God. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.
The question is do we live what we believe.
Throughout the year we celebrate feasts of various saints. Some are well-known while others we don’t know much about.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Everyone who is in Heaven is a saint. There are thousands of saints known by name. There are millions, if not billions, of saints that we do not know by name. Today we venerate them and ask them to pray for us.
Do you want to be a saint?
It is not easy.
It requires faith. Faith to do what? We find the answer in the Beatitudes.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do not strive to make a name for yourself. Surrender yourself in faith to God.
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.
Ask for the grace to be “meek” so that you might persevere.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Seek not worldly ways. Rather, seek what is righteous in God’s eyes.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Seek forgiveness for your sins so that your heart is clean.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do not worry when the world rejects you for your faith. God sees what is in your heart and has a place for you in Heaven. We ask the saints to intercede for us, that we may follow their example in becoming like Christ.