Solemnity of All Saints

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

In the reading from the Book of the Apocalypse the author speaks of the faithful who have died and are now radiant in the presence of God in heaven. They are radiant because their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb who is our redeemer. Before the final judgement all those who have been faithful will be given a seal on their forehead as the Jews sealed their doorposts on Passover night. In our second reading St John asks us to think of the love which God has lavished on us – a love which allows us to be called the sons and daughters of God and therefore grants us a place in heaven with God. For John, this means that anybody who thinks of this would automatically try to purify themselves and try to live up to this great gift and grace. In the gospel, we have Christ’s tremendous blueprint for Christian living – the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount – which has the power to transform our world but only if people live out that teaching in their lives. These readings are apt for today’s feast because the saints did live out the Beatitudes and did recognise and appreciate the great love which God lavished on them and so lived their lives in such a way that people could see the love of God in their midst. As a result, the saints – who were living, breathing human beings like each and every one of us – now enjoy the beatific vision in the eternal kingdom.

Solemn Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 26; Romans 5:5-11; Matthew 11:25-30 or Mark 15:33-39, 16:1-6
In our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah we read that the Lord of hosts will destroy Death for ever. We know that Christ has triumphed over death and yet people still die. What is important for us to keep in mind is that while our earthly body may die our soul does not. It lives on and the banquet which Isaiah speaks about takes place in heaven. In the second reading St Paul tells us that we have been saved by Christ who died for us even while we were still sinning. This is the hope that we should have and if we live according to that hope then we will all be reunited in the kingdom where death has no power. In the gospel text from St Matthew we see Jesus praising the Father in heaven for revealing the mysteries to children rather than to the learned and the clever. The text concludes with Jesus calling to him all those who are overburdened. Matthew is reminding us that the way of Christ is a way of fulfilment at the end of which is eternal life and a time of rest which will never end. Only if we trust God like little children and act accordingly can we enter the kingdom of heaven. In the alternative gospel passage from St Mark we read of the death of Christ which is a moment of great despair for his mother and for the disciples. But in the second part there is a very obvious contrast because we now see the Risen Lord and so we are filled with great hope. Christ, who was human, has been raised from the dead and through his resurrection we too have the promise of resurrection and eternal life. Today in a very special way we pray for all who have died but we do so in hope – hope of the resurrection which has been promised to each one of us and to all who have died.

Any of the readings from amongst those from the Lectionary for the Dead may be used today.

The Thirty-first Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 21; Luke 14:15-24

In our first reading from the letter to the Christians at Philippi, we have one of the most beautiful passages in Sacred Scripture in which St Paul speaks about how much Christ gave up in order to become one like us. Given his great sacrifice how can we fail to make sacrifices which are as nothing in comparison to his? In the Gospel, we have the parable of the man who gave a great banquet but whose original guests did not show up. He then gave his invite to others and they came. The message of Christ was first given to the Jews but they did not accept it so it was preached to the Gentiles and the pagans. Therefore all peoples have an invite to the eternal banquet of heaven.

The Thirty-first Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 2:12-18; Psalm 26; Luke 14:25-33

St Paul exhorts us in the first reading from the letter to the Philippians to keep the faith and to continue working for the building up of the kingdom. Paul stresses how important it is that the pagans in the town of Philippi should see a powerful example of Christian living demonstrated by the Christian community. Paul also speaks about the possibility of his dying for the faith which he embraces with joy. In the Gospel, Christ calls us to give up our possessions in order to be true followers of his. While we do need certain things to live we do not need to be so attached to them that we cannot live without them or that they block Christ from our lives. Christ must be the one and only possession in life that we long and strive for.

The Thirty-first Thursday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 3:3-8; Psalm 104; Luke 15:1-10

St Paul speaks about how perfect a Jew he himself was before his conversion. However his former standing as a Jew is often a disadvantage because people are not always ready to accept that he is now a true Christian. If we want to be accepted as true Christians then we must convert today and not continue in our sinful ways. Christ tells us in the Gospel that there is more rejoicing in heaven over the conversion of a sinner than for the right living of the virtuous. The virtuous are doing no more than is expected of them while the repentant sinner has come to accept the word of God and make it the guiding light in their life.

Memorial of St Nuno Alvares Pereira, Carmelite

Nuno Alvares Pereira was born in 1360 near Crato in central Portugal. He became a soldier and rose through the ranks becoming the champion of Portuguese independence. He was most decisive in ensuring Portuguese independence from the kingdom of Castile between 1383 and 1385, for which he was named Protector and Constable of Portugal. He married at the age of sixteen and his wife gave birth to three children, the two boys dying early in life. After his wife had died, Nuno joined the Carmelites in 1423 and entered the Carmo Convent in Lisbon (which he himself had founded in fulfilment of a vow, one of several churches and monasteries he had built). In religious life he remained a favourite of the king and the royal court who would not allow him to give up all his possessions or titles (he was Count of all three countdoms in the kingdom). Devoted to Our Lady, he took the religious name Brother Nuno of St Mary and lived in the Carmo until his death in 1431. He was canonized in 2009.

Feast of All the Saints of Ireland

Ecclesiastes 44:1-5; Psalm 14; Luke 6:17-23

The first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes calls on us to praise illustrious men and then lists those who have held positions in society and who are remembered for their great and noble works. But in the last section it speaks of generous men and those who kept the covenants and handed them on to their children. Today we praise those Irish people who kept the faith which was handed on to them and for which they are now counted among the Communion of Saints, though their names have long since been forgotten. In the gospel, we have Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes in which Christ is promising the kingdom to those who are poor in spirit. Those who live by the Beatitudes are those who will inherit the kingdom and be counted among the Communion of Saints.

The Thirty-first Saturday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 4:10-19; Psalm 111; Luke 16:9-15

In our closing section today from his letter to the Christians at Philippi, St Paul thanks the Philippians for their generosity to him and he tells them that their account in heaven is increasing because in helping him they are also helping in the spread of the Gospel. He also tells them that he can overcome anything because he has the help of God on his side. In the Gospel, Christ calls us to make God and heaven the only things that matter to us in life. Like the Philippians we are to help in the spread of the Gospel in any way we can and that begins with the strengthening of our own faith in Christ and the Resurrection.