Revelation 7: 2-4; 9-14; 1John 3: 1-3; Matthew 5: 1-12A (Thursday, November 1, 2007 – Solemnity of All Saints)

When I was growing up, we lived near an army memorial park. In the park there was a life size statue of a soldier on a Nigerian Army uniform. Every 15th of January, the veterans marched and paid homage to this soldier. As a little child, I always wondered who he was and what he did to achieve such great honors. It was at an older age that I learnt that he was a symbol for all the unknown soldiers that died serving the country. Today is the day we celebrate all those people who lived exemplary Christian lives that might be unknown to other people. Usually on this day I invoke the intercession of those people that I personally know whom I believe strive to live daily their Christian lives when they were living here on earth: I remember family members who have died; I remember those missionaries who labored to share their faith with my rural people; I remember those Christians I prayed with and anointed on their dead beds; I remember friends who died very young but lived their whole lives hoping to return to their eternal home one day.

Today is also a day we Christians celebrate our call to be saints. We are all called to sainthood because we have been elected by Christ to be members of the sanctified community. As members of the sanctified community, every moment of our lives most be sanctified – it must be an opportunity to respond to this call that we have received from the Lord. Thus, we must see our responsibilities and professions as moments that God has given to us to gain grace.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for calling us to be saints. May you help us to see each moment of our lives as an opportunity to respond to you, so that one day, we together with all the saints will rejoice with you in our eternal home.