Gospel: Matt 5:1-12
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are those who work for peace, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Fruit: Renew my baptismal commitment to be holy.

Guidelines for reflection:
Today we celebrate the feast of all saints. Perhaps we keep very present on this day, and the next, the commemoration of the deceased; we especially remember our family members and friends who have passed away. But the main content of this feast is to rejoice with the countless multitude of saints in heaven, and to forget and renew our desire and commitment to be saints.

1. The countless multitude of saints
We read in the Book of Revelation that behind the Lamb (of Christ) there was an innumerable multitude, which no one could count; those who had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. This symbolic image represents the multitude of souls who have reached heaven, who have responded with their fidelity to the redemption Christ offered them. And all these, everyone who reaches heaven, is a saint. This is the meaning of today’s feast: to celebrate, on the same day, all those who have attained salvation, throughout these two thousand years of Christianity. They are the “anonymous” saints, whose names we do not even know: the woman who has lived dedicated to her family, worn out for her children, the obedient and gentle son to his parents, the simple, honest, and consistent worker, the employer who loves his workers and cares for them… An anonymous multitude of people who have lived doing good, often without hardly being known. Holy people, who have sanctified everyone around them.

2. What is holiness?
Why are all these people saints? The answer is simple: they have fulfilled their duty, loved God and neighbor, fulfilling the two main commandments: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your body, and love your neighbor as Christ loves him.” That is holiness, and that is what all Christians are called to. A saint is not only someone who performs miracles, who spends hours kneeling in a church, with eyes rolled back; a saint is simply someone who loves God and neighbor.

3. My call to holiness
On the day of our baptism, our parents and godparents, on our behalf, promised God the effort to love Him in our lives, renouncing the false seductions of the devil. On Holy Saturday night, during the Easter Vigil, we renew those same desires to love God, to be saints. But perhaps over time, we forget what we promised to God. It happens to us like a small child who promises his mom to behave well, and five minutes later has already done another mischief. But God knows us, He knows we are weak, that the inertia of the day, fatigue… make us forget our purpose to love Him above all things. He wants us, knowing our weakness, to walk day by day closer to Him. He knows there will be falls, failures, weaknesses, but the main thing is to get up.

Purpose: I will renew my desire to be holy, living Christian charity especially in my family.