Wednesday,
November 1, 2017
All Saints Day
1st Reading:
Rev 7:2-4,9-14
2nd Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him. Then he spoke and began to teach them:
“Fortunate are those who have the spirit of the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.
“Fortunate are the gentle, they shall possess the land.
“Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
“Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.
“Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.
“Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God.
“Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. This is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Not everyone who wins rejoices. Consider the joke involving a winner of a sack of rice. He won but was sad because the rice was precooked when awarded to him. Similarly, not all who lose mourn. Consider the joke involving the remaining passengers of a troubled airplane. The other passengers had already deplaned in their parachutes leaving a priest, a boy, a congressman, and a lawyer. There were only three parachutes left. The lawyer and the politician grabbed a parachute each, leaving only one parachute for the priest and the boy. The priest insisted that since he was old and will soon die anyway, the boy should take the parachute and save his life. “No big deal, Father,” the boy said, “there is a parachute for you and for me because the lawyer grabbed my knapsack”.
Today’s Gospel tells us that those who rejoice today mourn tomorrow; those who mourn today rejoice tomorrow. The reason is simple. God uses a different standard. Losers by human judgment are winners by God’s estimation. Today we honor these real victors as we celebrate All Saints’ Day. As we do, we partially comply with the doctrine of “communion of saints”, which is at the heart of our Catholic belief.
Communion of Saints allows us who are saints in the making to seek the intercession of the saints triumphant. Compliance with this doctrine is complete on All Souls’ Day tomorrow when we come to the cemeteries and pray for the dead (saints suffering). In this communion, we are sure winners one day! – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M., Email: [email protected].
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