Solemnity of All Saints ~ A~ Mt. 5:1-12a, "Rejoice and Be Glad" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger, PhD

Imagine a happier time in the Middle East, a time when we can join in a

pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After flying into Tel Aviv, we take a bus up to

Nazareth and first visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. Later that day, we come to the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is here, in Galilee that Jesus begins his ministry. St. Matthew tells us that he first proclaims, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Calling two sets of brothers as his first disciples, Jesus now leads them up a mount along the shore of the Sea to speak to them, and to the crowd.

We arrive at the Church of the Beatitudes and listen for his words. “Blessed…” he

proclaims. His Sermon on the Mount begins with a series of profound blessings

which he announces to the disciples… and to the church!

The first and the last of these blessings are very much focused on our present

world. They form a present-tense frame around all the other Beatitudes which are

in the future tense. So we hear in St. Matthew of the children of God who are poor

in spirit or who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. This distinction in

our Gospel Lesson calls for some scrutiny, especially as our Lord tells us of such

saints who, in this life, are blessed. When Jesus begins his teaching on the

Beatitudes, he first says,

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

For these souls, the presence of the kingdom of heaven is promised here, in the

midst of life, with all its messiness and its disasters. There is a quietude, peace that

is implied in such poverty of spirit. Professor Amy Oden is very helpful: “When

one is poor in heart and mind, one is emptied, we are free of clutter, available and

roomy.” 1 On the other hand, those who lack such blessedness are full of

themselves, overbearing, and center on their own wants, needs, and achievements.

Of course, just now we are confronted by political campaigns that are, most

definitely, “crammed full of such spirit.” Attack ads dominate radio and TV.

Political speech has become coarse and even profane. We search far and wide for

any candidate who could be named as “poor in spirit.”

Yet when we expand our search for those who are poor in spirit in our

ragged, chaotic 21 st century world, one of the most direct ways to encounter such

persons in community is to travel to a monastic community (the homilist may name a nearby monastic setting that is familiar to members of the parish). Here, we find men or women who share in the rhythms of work and worship which abide over years and even centuries. At such a place of peace, visitors attend the daily prayer with these faithful ones and are welcomed into a community embodying poverty of spirit. Blessed are these souls who are not full of themselves. And most wonderfully, in this monastic setting we find ourselves invited to set aside our own self-concern and multitasking.

On this All Saints Day, we celebrate such saints as Thèrèse of Lisieux, “The Little Flower,” and John the XXIII--poor in spirit in Christ. And we are invited to share in a life Jesus calls “blessed.” What is important to note, we are reminded, is that this gift of God’s presence and reign is in the here and now. “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Beatitudes--other than the two that bracket the rest--are given as a future

promise by our Lord. These blessings—for those who mourn, for the meek, for

those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are persecuted for

righteousness sake—are fulfilled in God’s future. They are gifts from God to the

faithful who endure such abuse and deprivation in the present age. The listing of

saints who will be happy begins with those who mourn. “For they will be

comforted,” Jesus announces. The depth of this comforting, though, makes all the

difference. The Greek word translated “comforted” here derives from the same

word that St. John uses in the Fourth Gospel when Jesus promises that “I will ask

the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Paraklete) to be with you

always.” 21 It is inadequate to speak only of a future “comfort.” Those who mourn

will have comfort, to be sure, Jesus announces. But they will also have advocates

who stand beside them along the way, even in the midst of their trials. This offers

a surprise within these future-tense Beatitudes. As Christ’s church, we are called

to be such advocates, to stand beside those who are mourning---here and now.

Our service as Christ’s advocates will find us in hospital rooms and hospice settings. Our advocacy will also show us to be active in advocating medical care for the underinsured among us. Our advocacy will extend to the grieving earth and all creation. Advocates here at (name parish) will be care-full to pray for our sick and grieving and to minister to them as we “stand beside them.” In our parish, we (please name an effective lay ministry that cares for the sick and grieving. The sacramental ministries are especially to be highlighted). As our Lord makes this future tense promise about the mourners being “comforted,” such advocacy in Christ’s name is also very much a present help. It works the other way around as well. Having this rock-solid promise of our Lord is the sure ground of our vulnerable and frail lives. An old 19 th century Gospel song sings to this mystery:

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let his praises ring…

Standing on the promises of God. 3

These future promises all have a strong present tense call to ministry for us all. We

will stand alongside and comfort those who mourn, who suffer, hunger, and who

long for God. And among the saints we celebrate this holy day, we give thanks for

Archbishop Óscar Romero, who was assassinated while celebrating Mass on

March 24, 1980. His last words were: “God's reign is already present on our earth

in mystery.”

In our time and place, along with such saints, we are the Spirit’s companions in bringing such advocacy. We stand, showing mercy, beside those who are meek, who are persecuted, who mourn, who hunger and thirst, and who make peace. And we are grateful for all who stand with us in our struggles and fears.

At St. Meinrad Benedictine Archabbey in southern Indiana, high up on the

wall of the apse there is a striking mural of “Christus,” the risen Christ. 4 In his left

hand, he holds the book of life while in his left, a laurel wreath. The laurel wreath

signs his triumph over all the sin and darkness that the world could muster. He is

King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But as you walk closer and look up at the mural,

a glorious insight springs to life. Christus is looking down at you, and all the

saints. Instead of a stern expression of judgment on his face, there is a smile. And

it almost appears that Christus is about to crown all the saints with wreaths of

laurel. They, too, gather around Christus.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7:17)

Amen

1 Amy G. Oden, “Commentary on Matthew 5:1-12,” Working Preacher, Feb. 2, 2014,

https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-after-epiphany/commentary-on-matthew-51-12-5.

2 See: John 14:14, “Advocate,” from “Paraklētos,” one who is called to “stand beside,” especially as a legal counselor.

3 R. Kelso Carter, “Standing on the Promises,” 1886.

4 See: Christus, “Murals,” St. Meinrad Archabbey, https://www.saintmeinrad.org/the-monastery/art-and-

architecture/murals/.