In 2018, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Exhortation called “Rejoice and be Glad” (Gaudete et Exsultate) in which reminded us that holiness is not for special people or a particular vocation but a universal call to all believers.

On the feast of All Saints, we celebrate the lives of all who have demonstrated holiness in their lives. Some of them are canonised saints, but many are ordinary people, our next-door neighbours, parents who raised their children with love, women and men who worked hard to support their families, elderly religious, those who lived by their principles in a variety of workplaces, the sick and the retired. Holiness often grows through small gestures and faithful commitment.

Francis offers a substantive reflection on the Beatitudes which are the subject of this week’s gospel. We learn that, when Jesus saw the crowds he went up a mountain, his disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. We are familiar with the text but let us take a moment to reflect. Each of the beatitudes begins with the term “Blessed” which is a translation of a Greek word meaning ‘those who receive God’s favour’.

However, each of these blessings is contrary to normal human expectations. Being poor in spirit is not an endorsement of poverty, but an attitude of being dependent on God rather than human resources. ‘Mourning’ is not a sought-after state, but those of us who mourn lost loved ones can develop a compassionate listening to others who have experienced loss. ‘Meekness’ is not a contemporary virtue, but rather an attitude of humility in those who are self-assured and have no desire to control others.

‘Those who hunger and thirst for justice’ are those who take seriously the statement of the 1971 Synod of Bishops who reminded us that “justice is a constitutive dimension of the gospel.”

It is not an optional extra but fundamental to the Good News. The ‘merciful’ are those who have in their own lives experienced setbacks and failures but have learned to walk quietly and patiently with other vulnerable people.  The ‘clean of heart’ are those who see the good of others and see their gifts instead of their limitations. The ‘peacemakers’ are critically important in a broken world where reconciliation and healing are essential for the renewal of our world.

The final Blessing is for those who are persecuted and bad-mouthed because of their belief in Jesus. Current statistics tell us that 388 million Christians in our contemporary world are persecuted because of their belief (https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/). Their commitment should encourage all of us to renew our commitment and our solidarity with those who experience such difficulties.

Let us ponder those who have gone before us who have lived their commitment to Christ faithfully in the ordinariness of their lives, as we also remember that we are all called to be members of the communion of saints.

Michael A Kelly CSsR

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