Fr. Francois Noha s.x.
The celebration of All Saints Day, that coincides with the 31st Sunday of ordinary time, is a special opportunity because of the covid-19 context. Besides, as Xaverian missionaries we are celebrating 100 years of the approval of our constitutions and the 70th anniversary of our presence in Sierra Leone. This is the first country in Africa where we opened a mission. At the same time, it happens when Pope Francis' words on homosexuality are creating a buzz around the world. What is Sainthood and who can be a saint? These questions find their answers in the readings that enrich the celebration of All Saints’ Day, where St. Matthew the evangelist gives us also the beatitudes.
The celebration of “All Saints Day” is an occasion for us to commemorate all our people and ancestors who died before us and led a life worthy of the Gospel values. They tried in their lifetime to live out the Gospel and challenge the people of their time. Not everyone is proclaimed a saint, but only those who marked their life time with concrete action imbued with the spirit of Jesus and of the Gospel. In the same way in the African context, not everyone is called “Ancestor”, because that title is reserved to those who have influenced the people of their time with a virtuous behaviour. The saints therefore, are the people who followed the beatitudes and embodied these values during their lifetime. According to the translation of Matthew's Gospel on Chapter 5 verses 1 to 12, he declares happy certain categories of people namely the “poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners, the hungry and thirsty for justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers", and so on, because God, who is the author of life and the supreme judge, is the source of these values. Here it becomes clear that the path to sainthood implies that the person ought to incarnate some of these values and live them out. The kingdom of God which is the ultimate recompense will be rewarded to those who follow that path. And so, who can be saint?
Jesus in this Gospel passage presents the values to be incarnated in life and each one according to his situation is called to express that love that is articulated into various ways of life. Everyone is called to serve his neighbour. This attitude of love and service creates a new family in which people recognise themselves in this “huge number… of people from every nation, race, tribe and language." Finally, the book of the Apocalypse tells us that to be member of this new family, one must go through the trials and persecution that befall those who try to do good.
Finally, who can be holy? Everyone who undertakes the way of conversion and tries to live out the beatitudes while striving to live in the likeness of Jesus. And so, we are all called to live out this gospel passage and so become children of God, not through blood, but through the Holy Spirit. May Mary our mother guide us through her intercession.
The celebration of All Saints Day, that coincides with the 31st Sunday of ordinary time, is a special opportunity because of the covid-19 context. Besides, as Xaverian missionaries we are celebrating 100 years of the approval of our constitutions and the 70th anniversary of our presence in Sierra Leone. This is the first country in Africa where we opened a mission. At the same time, it happens when Pope Francis' words on homosexuality are creating a buzz around the world. What is Sainthood and who can be a saint? These questions find their answers in the readings that enrich the celebration of All Saints’ Day, where St. Matthew the evangelist gives us also the beatitudes.
The celebration of “All Saints Day” is an occasion for us to commemorate all our people and ancestors who died before us and led a life worthy of the Gospel values. They tried in their lifetime to live out the Gospel and challenge the people of their time. Not everyone is proclaimed a saint, but only those who marked their life time with concrete action imbued with the spirit of Jesus and of the Gospel. In the same way in the African context, not everyone is called “Ancestor”, because that title is reserved to those who have influenced the people of their time with a virtuous behaviour. The saints therefore, are the people who followed the beatitudes and embodied these values during their lifetime. According to the translation of Matthew's Gospel on Chapter 5 verses 1 to 12, he declares happy certain categories of people namely the “poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners, the hungry and thirsty for justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers", and so on, because God, who is the author of life and the supreme judge, is the source of these values. Here it becomes clear that the path to sainthood implies that the person ought to incarnate some of these values and live them out. The kingdom of God which is the ultimate recompense will be rewarded to those who follow that path. And so, who can be saint?
Jesus in this Gospel passage presents the values to be incarnated in life and each one according to his situation is called to express that love that is articulated into various ways of life. Everyone is called to serve his neighbour. This attitude of love and service creates a new family in which people recognise themselves in this “huge number… of people from every nation, race, tribe and language." Finally, the book of the Apocalypse tells us that to be member of this new family, one must go through the trials and persecution that befall those who try to do good.
Finally, who can be holy? Everyone who undertakes the way of conversion and tries to live out the beatitudes while striving to live in the likeness of Jesus. And so, we are all called to live out this gospel passage and so become children of God, not through blood, but through the Holy Spirit. May Mary our mother guide us through her intercession.