Reflection For All Saints Day

[Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD]

All Saints Day 2009
A Reflection by Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church of New England
Based on the readings from: Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 John 3:1-3,
Matthew 5:1-12
www.missionstsergius.org

“These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and
they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.”
These words taken from the book of Revelation or Apocalypse describe
the heavenly elect or Saints. The book begins with a count of how many
are among the heavenly elect. “Then I heard how many were sealed: a
hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.
After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from
every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of
the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and
holding palms in their hands.

St. John, who is purported to be the author of the apocalyptic book of
revelation, used a number that in the time this book was written would
have been considered as beyond imagination. I consider this to mean
that every person who has died in Christ is a Saint which is why I
often call upon the deceased members of my family who I believe lived
according to God’s will to intercede to God on my behalf. It is not
just those whom the church declares as saints because they gave their
life rather than deny Christ like the patron saints of this ministry,
Sergius & Bacchus, or declared Saints by the church because their
lives were examples of living according to the teachings of Christ
like St. Francis, Mother Therese of Calcutta, St. Damien of Molokai.
Others have been declared saints because of there spirituality and
dedication to fulfilling their call as servants of God.
The second reading for All Saints Day comes from the third book of
John chapter 3 in which we read the following; “My dear people, we are
already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has
not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we
shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. Surely
everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be
as pure as Christ.”, which tell me that if we try to live our lives in
accord with the teachings of Christ, especially what Jesus called the
greatest commandments; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great
and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments all the Law and the
Prophet depend." (Matthew 22:36-46)
The Gospel reading sums everything up by teaching us how to achieve
becoming one of the heavenly elect. Often referred to as The Sermon on
the Mount it says; “‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for
their heritage. Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy
those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be
satisfied. Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. Happy
the pure in heart: they shall see God. Happy the peacemakers: they
shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the
cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are you when
people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny
against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will
be great in heaven.”
On this feast celebrating the lives of those women and men who
followed Christ’s teachings, many to the death of their earthly
bodies, let us examine ourselves as to what we have done or are doing
to preach PEACE.
Back in the times of another unpopular war in our nation a group known
as “Hippies” went around shouting “Make Peace and love, not war” they
were treated with scorn by many and labeled “Flower Children”.
What we need to call to mind is that Jesus was also treated in the
same way because He preached a way of life that was not the norm. It
is one thing to give one’s life for love of God or to defend your
country but so many today are giving their lives in a war that has
been raging for more than 35 years and is tribal in nature. As
followers of Christ we need to exert ourselves to bring about peace
between all of God’s children. Not only between nations, but
religious denomination, neighbors, local governing officials and ALL
of God’s children.
Another issue that we, as a people of God, need to give serious
consideration to is equality and justice and the well being of ALL
God’s children and one issue is the current debate on a National
Health Policy.
My question is why should our tax dollars be used to provide a select
few the finest of health coverage when so many who pay into the tax
base are deprived the same kind of health coverage. Where is the
justice, compassion, fairness, and equality that we as Christians
and followers of Christ’s teachings are supposed to practice?
Many of those who oppose a National health policy do so because they
may loose some of the profits and dividends they receive from owning
stock in Insurance companies. Others oppose simply because their
political party is not in control and they do not want the party in
power to be able to achieve the promises that got them elected by a
majority of citizens.
Again it is all about power, profit and glory and not about what is
right, just, compassionate and fair for ALL people. As Christians,
the glory we should be seeking is the Glory of God by living the
Sermon on the Mount by caring for the poor, aged and sick.
The Saints who achieved a higher level of spirituality and favor in
the eyes of God did so by giving of themselves often by dying because
of their love of God or, like St. Francis of Assisi, Mother Therese of
Calcutta or St. Damien of Molokai, spent their lives serving those
whom society rejected.
On this feast celebrating All The Saints let us call to mind the words
of Christ, “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I
have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those
who know they are sinners.” ( Matthew 9:13) and “‘I want you to show
mercy, not offer sacrifices.” ( Matthew 12:7) and from the book of
Zechariah 7:9 “"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments,
show kindness and mercy to one another”
On this feast commemorating those who achieved the highest level of
spirituality let us commit ourselves to work harder putting into
action the Beatitudes and the Corporal Works of Mercy as we live out
our earthly existence in the hope of attaining eternal life with God
and the Heavenly Elect. AMEN