{"id":3094,"date":"2015-11-03T08:30:18","date_gmt":"2015-11-03T08:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3094"},"modified":"2015-11-03T08:30:18","modified_gmt":"2015-11-03T08:30:18","slug":"commentary-2-on-the-feast-of-all-saints-1st-november-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-2-on-the-feast-of-all-saints-1st-november-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary (2) on the feast of All Saints, 1st November 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Matthew 5: 1\u201312a: \u2014 The Beatitudes<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are those who Mourn<\/strong><\/p>\n

4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are the Meek<\/strong><\/p>\n

5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness<\/strong><\/p>\n

6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are the Merciful<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are the Pure in Heart<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are the Peacemakers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are those who are Persecuted for Righteousness\u2019 sake<\/strong><\/p>\n

10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness\u2019 sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are You when Men Revile You,
and Persecute You
and Utter All Kinds of Evil about You on My Account<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.<\/em><\/p>\n

Rejoice and Be Glad<\/strong><\/p>\n

12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em>
<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matthew 5: 1\u201312a is the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, Mt.\u00a0 5: 1: 1\u20137: 29. entitled \u201cThe Sermon on the Mount\u201d, is the best known of the five major instructions given in Matthew\u2019s Gospel. The other four discourses are Chapters 10, 13, 19 and 24\u201325<\/p>\n

Many people would regard Christian living as a way of life that promises earthly happiness in this life for those who obey God\u2019s Law and unhappiness as punishment for those breaking the Commandments or Old Law. That is not promulgated in the Bible. Definitive salvation is promised not in this world but in the next life.<\/p>\n

Eight beatitudes are listed. They may be described as Jesus\u2019 Public Manifesto of his way of living. This passage does not describe eight categories of people but just one person who has all the eight beatitudes. These beatitudes describe the way Jesus lived and the way his disciples are expected to live. Salvation is promised to those who live the eight beatitudes.<\/p>\n

The word \u201cbeatitude<\/em>\u201d is translated as \u201chappy\u201d in some translations. In fact neither \u201cbeatitude<\/em>\u201d nor \u201chappy<\/em>\u201d would merit a top score in translating.\u00a0 \u201cBlessedness\u201d, like the manner in which Jesus lived or \u201cblissful\u201d would be better as they connote a permanent state rather than a transitory feeling. though perhaps for some people these words could be quite unwieldy.<\/p>\n

We can regard the beatitudes as containing the complete programme of Christian perfection as they outline Jesus way of living. In the Sermon Jesus declares that he did not come on earth to destroy the ten Commandments nor the Old Law but to fulfill what they taught (Mt. 5: 18\u201320). Only now is the full, complete revelation begun with Moses presented.<\/p>\n

Ezekiel 336: 24\u201327\u2013sums up the purpose of the Beatitudes: [24] \u201c\u201dFor I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land[25] I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. [26] A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. [28] You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your<\/em> God.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Beatitudes are described as the law of the Heart.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seeing the crowds, he went upon the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing the crowds<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Mt. Chapter 4: 23\u201325 tells of the healing and preaching Jesus had performed in Galilee and surrounds and the conclusion was that \u201clarge crowds<\/em>\u201d followed him from all Galilee and the Roman Province of Syria including Palestine, Jerusalem and Decapolis, that is ten cities or towns where Greek was spoken., The crowds represented all Israel following him to hear his teachings and be cured. \u201cAnd when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes<\/em>\u201d (Mt. 7: 28). <\/em>As the crowds are mentioned in Mt. 5: 1 and 7: 28\u201329 means that what is contained betweened these references applies to the crowds in these three chapters of the Sermon on the Mount. On the Mount the disciples would have formed an outer ring around Jesus. See Nehemiah, 8: 4<\/p>\n

\u201che went up on the mountain<\/em>\u201d: Matthew does not name this mountain. Mountains were places where, in the view of people, God lived. They saw the connection of the mountains reaching into the heavens as his residence. Consequently mountains were regarded as places of prayer and revelation, that is, God\u2019s revealing his teachings. Matthew intended to depict Jesus as a new Moses who has come from Egypt (2: 20\u201321) like the first, and now proclaimed a new revelation, the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, the New Law. The first Moses had gone up Mt. Sinai and collected the Old Law or Ten Commandments from God to be promulgated among the People of God (Ex: 19\u201320). Here now is Jesus promulgating the New Law in his own right.<\/p>\n

Jesus was tempted on a mountain (Mt. 4: 8\u201310); fed four thousand on a mountain (Mt. 15: 29\u201339); was transfigured on a mountain (Mt. 17; 1\u20139); was arrested on one (Mt. 26: 30\u201335 and ascended to heaven from a mountain (Mt. 28: 16).<\/p>\n

\u201cand when he sat down\u201d<\/em>: the posture of a Jewish teacher. See Mt. 13: 1;15: 29; 24: 1; 26: 55.<\/p>\n

\u201chis disciples came to him<\/em>\u201d: The disciples Peter, Andrew, James and John had just been called by Jesus to share his way of life (Mt: 4). That they were the first of his most intimate followers on whom he would depend to build his Church is clear. The distinction between the crowds and disciples is simple and clear. The crowds were moved by Jesus\u2019 healings and preaching but they had not decided definitively to follow him yet. The disciples had made their absolute commitment to follow Jesus and his way of life and living. Now in the Sermon on the Mount they will receive from Jesus their first instructions. Jesus regarded this teaching as addressed to them and he has the crowd join and learn through the new disciples of their teaching role of on the new revelation of the New Law.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he opened his mouth\u201d: This is a Jewish way of expressing<\/em> that \u2018he began to teach them\u2019. He impressed the crowds<\/p>\n

“He taught them<\/em> \u2014 This refers both to the disciples and to the multitude, as can be seen at the end of the Sermon (Matthew 7:28\u201329)\u201cAnd when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The Poor in Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is quite clear that Jesus had Isaiah 61: 1\u20133 in mind when he proclaimed beatitudes 1 \u20133 during the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. This is a great help for their explanation. The section in Isaiah deals with the hopes for a new Temple and a new authentic leadership with a different set of principled and attitudes. It is not a new legislation. . The beatitudes treat of a new way of religious living and relationship with God.. A prophet is to be anointed, the Messiah<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201c<\/em><\/strong>Blessed<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This word really expresses praise and thanksgiving from God for a person\u2019s present state of happiness coming from living God\u2019s gift. It is frequent in the psalms and wisdom literature.<\/p>\n

The Beatitudes are Jesus\u2019 Manifesto as he begins his public ministry. Those who follow him will have these attributes as he has them and which are opposed to the way of life promoted by the society of the time and in which we also live.<\/p>\n

\u201care the poor in spirit<\/em>\u201d:\u2013 God had special care for the poor in the Old Testament (Ex, 22: 25\u201327; Lv.19: 9\u201310; Dt. 15: 10\u201311; Is. 61: 11). Those economically poor were praised and specially loved by the prophets and authors of the Psalms and literature of Wisdom. The economically poor in spirit are materially poor but trust absolutely in God and do not expect anything from mankind. The poor in spirit are those who have absolute dependence on God for everything and recognised God\u2019s Kingdom or reign as a free gift that they could receive. Everything belongs to God and comes from him.\u00a0 for absolute integrity. The beatitude of the poor in spirit is really a call for a change of heart from a worldly one.<\/p>\n

\u201ctheirs is the kingdom of heaven<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Matthew uses the word \u201cheaven\u201d for \u201cGod\u201d when referring to the kingdom. The poor in spirit are assured of entering heaven. Theirs is<\/u> the Kingdom \u2014 They already share in the Kingdom. It is Jesus the Messiah who will confer the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

This is the first reference in what is known as an \u201cinclusio\u201d the second part of which will be repeated in Mt. 5: 10 to indicate that this expression is also the reward of all mentioned between these two verses.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those who Mourn<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are those who mourn<\/em>\u201d: \u2014 those who are sad to see the evils that had fallen on Israel because of the sins of the people. Isaiah 61: 2 (He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted<\/em>).could be the background to this second beatitude as indicated in the first lines of the comment on the previous beatitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor they shall be comforted\u201d<\/em>: They shall see the Messianic age which will bring salvation.<\/p>\n

The Spirit of God will console with peace and joy, even in this life, those who weep for their sins and the evils which flow from the sins of the people of Israel. Later the Spirit will give them a share in the fullness of happiness and glory in Heaven: These are the blessed.<\/p>\n

St. Leo the Great<\/em><\/strong>: \u201cThese mourners, dearly beloved, to whom eternal consolation is promised, do not share in the feelings of this world. Those laments which are poured out by the weeping of the whole human race do not make anyone blessed. The groans of the holy are of another kind. There is another cause of consecrated tears. Devout sorrow grieves at the sin of another or its own, not at what divine justice does. Religious sorrow grieves at what is committed by human iniquity, where the one doing the evil ought to be more swept for than the one suffering it. Their own malice directs the unjust to their penalty, but patience leads the just to glory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The Meek<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the meek<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The meek, also known as \u201cthe gentle\u201d, are those who are peaceful before God because of their absolute dependence on him and before people because of Jesus. He had all the power he wanted yet never used it for his own interests or needs or to manipulate or control people but his sole desire was to serve everyone. The meek are not gentle because of weakness as moderns are inclined to consider it,<\/p>\n

\u201cfor they shall inherit the earth<\/em>\u201d \u2013\u2013 James 2: 5 writes, <\/em>\u00a0\u201cListen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?<\/em>\u201dThe meek who remain serene in the adversity of persecution and never aggressive will eventually have authority in the Kingdom of Heaven<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall be satisfied.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness\u201d \u2014 <\/em>\u201cRighteousness<\/em>\u201d or justice in Matthew indicates having a proper and intimate relationship with God, seeking to fulfil his will perfectly in all things. In the Bible, it is the same as what we call \u201choliness\u201d (1 John 2:29; 3:7\u201310; Revelation 22:11; Genesis 15:6; Deuteronomy 9:4).<\/p>\n

\u201cfor they shall be satisfied<\/em>\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>Those who seek such a relationship or\u00a0 union in a serious and zealous manner will be satisfied.<\/p>\n

As St. Jerome<\/strong> comments (“Comm. on Matthew<\/em>“, 5, 6), our Lord is asking us not simply to have a vague desire for righteousness: we should hunger and thirst for it, that is, we should love and strive earnestly to seek what makes a man righteous in God’s eyes. A person who genuinely wants to attain Christian holiness should love the means which the Church, the universal vehicle of salvation, offers all men and teaches them to use \u2014 frequent use of the Sacraments, an intimate relationship with God in prayer, a valiant effort to meet one’s social, professional and family responsibilities.<\/p>\n

St. Leo the Great<\/em><\/strong>: \u201cThis is not bodily hunger. This thirst seeks nothing earthly, but longs to be filled with the good of justice. When it is brought into the hidden place of all mysteries, it hopes \u2018to be filled with the Lord himself.\u2019 Happy is the soul that wants this food and burns for such a drink, which assuredly it would not be seeking if it had not already tasted something of its sweetness. When it hears the spirit of the prophet saying to it, Taste and see that the Lord is sweet<\/em>, it has received a certain portion of heavenly sweetness and is ardent in love of the purest delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe soul then spurns all temporal things and is inflamed to eat and drink justice with all its good will. It comprehends the truth of that first commandment which says, You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole mind, with all your strength. Since to love God is nothing else than to love justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Merciful<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

: \u201cBlessed are the merciful<\/em><\/strong>: \u2014 Compassion is another name for mercy. Forgiveness and almsgiving are the two most frequent examples of mercy in Matthew\u2019s Gospel. Mercy is not just a matter of giving alms to the poor but also of being understanding towards other peoples\u2019 problems, overlooking these, forgiving them, helping people cope with them and loving them despite whatever defects they may have. Being merciful also means rejoicing and suffering with other people.<\/p>\n

The merciless Pharisees were the persons most condemned by Jesus for their lack of mercy Mt. 9: 13; 12: 7; 23: 13\u2019 18: 13). Many would regard mercy as Jesus\u2019 greatest attribute.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor they shall obtain mercy<\/em>\u201d \u2014 What they share assures them of God\u2019s mercy, including a place in heaven.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Pure in Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God\u201d.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the pure in heart\u201d \u2014 <\/strong><\/em>External purity was practised as necessary for ritual worship by the Pharisees. Jesus took them to task on several occasions because of their emphasis on external worship that did not come from their hearts. Recall Ezechiel 36: 36 already given where the promise of a new heart for people is declared. See also Mt. 12: 23; 36; 12:34where it is said that words and actions flow from the heart and so are good or bad according to the heart.<\/p>\n

Nor does this beatitude refer to chastity as such though it would include it. Fundamentally pure in heart means cleanliness of heart. In this beatitude both moral and ritual purity are intended.<\/p>\n

Christ teaches us that the source of the quality of human acts lies in the heart, that is, in a man’s soul, in the depths of his spirit. “When we speak of a person’s heart, we refer not just to his sentiments, but to the whole person in his loving dealings with others. In order to help us understand divine things, Scripture uses the expression `heart’ in its full human meaning, as the summary and source, expression and ultimate basis, of one’s thoughts, words and actions.<\/p>\n

Cleanness of heart is a gift of God, which expresses itself in a capacity to love, in having an upright and pure attitude to everything noble. As St. Paul says, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).<\/p>\n

\u201cFor they shall see God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Helped by God’s grace, a Christian should constantly strive to cleanse his heart and acquire this purity, whose reward is the vision of God.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Peacemakers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called ed children of God\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are the peacemakers\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Peacemakers are those who reconcile people who are opposed to one another. Above all, it means those who reconcile sinners with God<\/p>\n

\u201cfor they shall be called sons of God<\/em>\u201d: They shall be performing the mission of Jesus, the Son of God in the flesh who came to bring God\u2019s peace to the world.<\/p>\n

The translation \u201c<\/em>peacemakers\u201d<\/em> well conveys the active meaning of the original text \u2014 those who foster peace, in themselves and in others and, as a basis for that, try to be reconciled and to reconcile others with God. Being at peace with God is to be like God, his child. Being at peace with God is the cause and effect of every kind of peace. Any peace on earth not based on this divine peace would be vain and misleading.<\/p>\n

“They shall be called sons of Go<\/em>\u201d: \u2014 this is a saying often found in Sacred Scripture; it is the same as saying \u201cthey will be sons of God<\/em>\u201d. St. John’s first letter (3:1) provides a correct exegesis of this Beatitude: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are<\/em>“.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Persecuted<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness\u2019 sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness\u2019 sake\u201d<\/em>: \u2014 See verse 6 above. The meaning is that those who are persecuted because they desire to keep a correct relationship with God and who are persecuted on account of this are blessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor theirs is the kingdom of heaven\u201d<\/em>:\u2013 The end of an inclusion with verse 3. The meaning is that each reward from the first beatitude to the present, number 8, includes the reward of living in the Kingdom of Heaven,<\/p>\n

\u00a0What this Beatitude means, then, is: blessed are those who are persecuted because they are holy, or because they are striving to be holy [righteous], for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/p>\n

Thus, blessed is he who suffers persecution for being true to Jesus Christ and who does so not only patiently but joyfully. Circumstances arise in a Christian’s life that call for heroism\u2013\u2013where no compromise is admissible: either one stays true to Jesus Christ whatever the cost in terms of reputation, life or possessions, or one denies Him. St. Bernard (“Sermon on the Feast of All Saints”) says that the eighth Beatitude is as it were the prerogative of Christian martyrs. Every Christian who is faithful to Jesus’ teaching is in fact a “martyr” (a witness) who reflects or acts according with this Beatitude, even if he does not undergo physical death.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account; Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is not a ninth beatitude but an expansion of the eighth which St. Matthew came across and decided to include it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed are you\u201d \u2014 <\/em>The plural is used. This is a direct address to the disciples, the ministers of the Church, representing the Church.<\/p>\n

\u201cwhen men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you false<\/em>ly\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 This is not a new beatitude but an application of the eighth.<\/p>\n

on my account<\/em> \u2014 Jesus identifies himself with righteousness<\/em>: see verse 10. Prior to this the prophets (see verse 12) were persecuted because they observed and promoted the Law whose observance proclaimed a desire to be in good relationship with God. Now Jesus is replacing the Law.<\/p>\n

The Beatitudes are the conditions Jesus lays down for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. This verse, in a way summing up the preceding ones, is an invitation to everyone to put this teaching into practice. The Christian life, then, is no easy matter, but it is worthwhile, given the reward that Jesus promises.<\/p>\n

\u201cRejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven\u201d<\/em>: \u2014 Heaven is not described as a place. This is a Hebrew way of respectfully avoiding the word \u2018God\u201d which was regarded as sacred.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor so men persecuted the prophets who were before you\u201d<\/em>:\u2013 See Mt. 23: 29\u201336 \u2014 \u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, \u2018If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.\u2019 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari\u2019ah the son of Barachi\u2019ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

November 1 each year celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. A \u201csolemnity\u201d is the highest ranking feast and generally a Holiday of Obligation. The question can be asked why does the Church celebrate this feast and this year, when it falls on a Sunday, it replaces the Sunday Mass?<\/p>\n

The answer is simple: it is such an important day. During the year the Church appoints certain days to honour certain saints, such as St. Patrick on March 17 and St. Joseph on March 19, etc. We could go through the calendar and list the hundreds of saints honoured with a feast\u2013day. The Feast of All Saints celebrates each one of the millions who have been taken to heaven, what I like to call \u201cthe Unknown Saints\u201d, who have not publicly been declared Saints or Blesseds, yet many of whom were honoured as such at a later date. Pope St. John Paul is a saint known, at least through television, to most of us. He raised 476 saints and 1315 blesseds during his 23 years as Pope.\u00a0 And in a few years after his death in 2003 he himself was raised to blessed and then to saint. Those who were most outstanding had their \u201ccauses\u201d introduced and many of these will be declared to be, as we say, \u201con the altars of the Church\u201d. Among these could be such persons as Matt Talbot, Edel Quinn and Frank Duff whose \u201ccauses\u201d are under study. The parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus were declared \u201cBlesseds\u201d in October and there is a search for more married couples to join these. The search is also emphasising lay people such as the three Irish mentioned above.<\/p>\n

My parents, sister and grandparents lived very religious but unpretentious lives and it is unlikely that they ever would be declared saints or blesseds. Nevertheless they were great saints and certainly in my opinion, are in heaven. My family will be celebrating their memory on Sunday. They deserve it.<\/p>\n

What will we celebrate? Firstly, we will give thanks to Almighty God who graced them with gifts to merit heaven.<\/p>\n

Then we will think of the virtues the practised very humbly in our home and we will pray that all their offspring will join them in heaven in due time.<\/p>\n

We trust that we will be renewed in our hope to develop like them and have God as the first and centre place in our houses.<\/p>\n

What do w .have to do to merit and enter heaven? Today\u2019s Gospel gives the answer \u2014 the beatitudes lived as Jesus taught and practised so as to be our model. Jesus sought to know God\u2019s will in everything and then he put it into practise. Today\u2019s Gospel shows us how the beatitudes are God\u2019s will for us They are our road to sanctity and righteousness.<\/p>\n

To end this lengthy commentary and Application we can make two fundamental remarks. We must make constant effort if we wish to become citizens of heaven.\u00a0 We can be strengthened in this and become one with Jesus our model in the living of the beatitudes if we receive Holt Communion regularly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Matthew 5: 1\u201312a: \u2014 The Beatitudes Setting 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blessed are the Poor in Spirit 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3095,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3094"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3096,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions\/3096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}