Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm – Ps 23:1-6
Reading 2 – John 3:1-3
Gospel – Matthew 5:1-12
Reflection
by Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal
In a children’s liturgy section on Sunday, a teacher asked the children in her class: "How many of you would like to go to Heaven, the place of All Angels?" All of the children raised their hands except one little guy named Derrick. When the teacher asked him why he didn't want to go to Heaven, he said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Smith, but my Mommy told me to come home right after the Sunday mass, because she was fixing an apple pie for me."
We begin this month and this weekend celebrating All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. We especially remember all those who lived righteously and entered into the everlasting life before us. We thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and heavenly glory as a reward for their faith. The Catholic Church has recognised and venerates lots of saints giving them particular days. Although, there are countless other men and women united with God in the heavenly glory unrecognized by the church, including many of our fellow human beings who lost their lives due to Corona virus this year. Among them would be our own parents and godparents, brothers and sisters who were heroic in their faith. We honour their memory these days. This is why we celebrate All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day consecutively.
The Gospel this weekend is about the Beatitudes. This word comes from Latin word beati means ‘the ones being blessed’. These beatitudes invite everyone to holiness and teaches us how to live righteously to enter into the heavenly bliss, where one enjoys the company of all saints. We are all called to this sainthood of God. Saints were people like us human beings, who lived a holy life according to Jesus’ beatitudes. It is not they themselves who achieved this victory but it is by the grace of God that they have overcome all the trials and temptations. This is why St. Paul says, in 1Cor.15:10 “What I am now is through the grace of God.” Let us imitate all saints and pray to them in order to make our journey to God. They are models for us who have accomplished the will of God in their lives, by being faithful to him. In the gospel of Mathew 7:21 Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven". To reserve a seat in heaven is to do the will of God. Let us entreat the intercession of all saints for this purpose so that we too might hear the lord’s word: "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of your master." (Mt 25:21)