Homily For The Solemnity Of All Saints, Year A.

Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12.

“BE HUMAN AND BE SAINTLY”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       Today is originally supposed to be celebrated as the 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Since, as Catholics we celebrate the solemnity of all saints every first day of November hence, we celebrate the solemnity of all saints takes precedence over our usual Sunday celebration.

·       In celebrating today’s solemnity, the church reminds us that we are called to be saints. Saints are not superhumans. They are rather humans with a super disposition to obey and apply the commandments of God.

·       Someone once described a saint as “an ordinary human being who do things in an extraordinary way.” Hence today, we are called to be humans and yet saints.

·       The fact that we are called to be saints also reminds us that we are not just human beings going through spiritual experience; rather, we are spiritual beings going through human experience. This is why we were created in the image and likeness of God, who has both human and divine nature.

·       Today that we celebrate this solemnity, one may ask, is it possible for one to be a saint? Is sainthood not an impossible task to achieve? Dearly beloved in Christ, sainthood is possible and achievable. Those that the church has recognised as saints lived and worked among us. Some have been a privilege to meet in person. Examples: Saint Johnpaul, Mother Theresa, and our own soon-to-be Saint Iwene Tansi and many others.

·       These men and women who are called saints and are being honoured today had their struggles with sin. They faced temptation daily, made mistakes, and sometimes even fell into sin. The goodness is that they never remained where they fell. They learned their lessons and resolved not to fall into sin again. And they are set before us as role models.

·       Saint Augustine, who was African, struggled with concupiscence and wayward living, and it took the prayerful intervention of his mother – Saint Monica and Saint Ambrose to bring about his conversion. When Augustine got converted, he never looked back.

·       If Augustine and many others still became saints, then all hope is not lost for us. Sainthood is still very possible for us. God is calling you to be human and yet be saintly. We can become living saints by the way we conduct our lives.

·       In the first reading (Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14), we are told that the saints are those who have been washed clean in the blood of the lamb. These are those who have gone through all kinds of trials and come out victorious. We too might be going through some difficulty and temptation. We must see those as our testing and being washed in the blood of the Lamb.

·       In the second reading (1 John 3:1-3), we were reminded that the saints are God’s children, and that the love of God has been poured into their hearts. To be human and saintly is to exude that love of God that has been lavished upon us. To exude that love means to do things differently.

·       The gospel reading (Matthew 5:1-12), which is the beatitude – the attitude that leads to saintliness gives us practical steps towards living a saintly life. That is to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

·       To be human and be saintly, we ought to be:

-        Poor in spirit, which means to be detached from all worldly possessions and distractions.

-        To be gentle; this sometimes could be misunderstood for stupidity. It is not. It is the ability to turn the other cheek when we are struck and not to seek vengeance when wronged.

-        Happy are those who mourn. The saintly life comes with a prize. Sometimes we will be persecuted; sometimes we will face opposition and trials. The Lord himself will console you.

-        To be saintly, we ought to keep our thirst for God and righteousness alive.

-        Happy the merciful- you cannot possibly be a saint if you do not learn how to forgive and let go.

-        Purity of heart is the crown of all the requirements to be human and yet be saintly.

-        Be a peacemaker because God’s constant gift to us is peace!

-        The challenge of saintly life is the crosses and disappointments of life. However, we must hold firm because gold is tested by fire, and those who persevere to the end will be rewarded with the crown of unfading glory.

·       Dearly beloved, God has called you to be saints. As our brothers and sisters are being honoured today, God earnestly wishes to honour you someday as His saints. That can only be possible once we resolve to be both human and saintly.

·       Be human and be saintly because that is what God expects of us. And the psalmist tells us that “such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.”

·       May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!