Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach
On All Saints Day, the gospel reading begins Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In this reading, Jesus teaches his apostles and the multitudes that follow him, the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)
This sermon ends with “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12) Interestingly, this sermon calls us to be poor in spirit, to be meek, to be merciful, to hunger and thirst, to be clean of heart, to be peacemakers, and then ends with “rejoice and be glad!” Jesus challenges us to leave behind our old ways and live a new way. He challenges us to love God with our whole hearts. What bad habits or attitudes can we leave behind? How does God challenge us to stand up for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness while remaining joyful? How can we make changes to the way we behave?
The Church honors all saints, on November 1, both those who have been formally canonized and others who are in heaven. These saints are individuals who have lived lives of extraordinary faith and dedication to God, and they serve as our role models. They have played a significant role in spreading Christianity and leading others toward holiness. The saints knew the joys and sufferings of the Beatitudes. Many were patient in their heroism and remained joyful as they persevered through adversity. They relied on simplicity and humility as they hungered and thirsted for righteousness. Many saints overcame a life previously not lived for Christ, but they heard the call to follow Jesus and converted. They learned that being clean of heart and becoming peacemakers was the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanksgiving celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is a reminder to give thanks and to rejoice in our many gifts. We celebrate our blessings, and maybe we even try to apologize for our shortcomings and forgive others. The message of the Beatitudes is a checkup for us to see if we are “living in a manner worthy of the call we have received”. (Ephesians 4:1) We should ask ourselves if we are living the call of the Beatitudes. Are we living in a manner worthy of being called a Christian?
Take time to review the Beatitudes that Jesus gives to those who choose to follow Him. Look for changes you can make to grow closer to Him in holiness. Rejoice when you receive glimpses of the Kingdom of Heaven, when you are satisfied, when you are shown mercy, when you see God, and when you are called a Child of God! Rejoice when you find yourself “living in a manner worthy of the call you have received.”
Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:
Ephesians 4:1-3 – Brothers and Sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.
1 Peter 3:8-12 – Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called that you might inherit a blessing. For: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”
Micah 6:8 – You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God