Painting: Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877), public domain
All Saints’ Sunday: Luke 6.20-31
The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.
This is part of the iconic commercial “Think Different” of Apple Computer in the late 90’s. Among those crazy people featured by Apple were Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi, Amelia Earhart, Pablo Picasso, and many more. Even after they were all gone, the history remembers those who inspired us deeply throughout the centuries evolving.
While Apple’s old slogan “Think Different” provided an opportunity to celebrate creativity and innovation, we also remember those who think alike, those who follow the same paths as their forerunners walked – saints who lived out the faith according to the teachings of Christ, with spiritual strength and wisdom.
Saints made themselves instruments for a deep human revolution to translate the messages from the Holy Spirit for us to follow God. They modelled for us to be united under one faith to imitate the one and only, Lord Jesus Christ who transforms darkness, fear, and uncertainties into light and eternal salvation.
We are so much indebted to Christian martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the spread of the Good News. On this All Saints’ Sunday, we also remember the souls who departed from us, who are not canonized yet remain as our heroes and heroines – little saints who played significant roles in our ordinary lives. Sometimes in our ordinary conversations, we are reminded of our little saints.
Just a little story to tell you . . . Yesterday someone phoned me. As soon as she went through her points, she was about to hang up the phone without giving me a chance to speak. “Love you; bless you; and bye!” That’s what she usually says at the end of our conversation, which reminds me of my deceased father who had the same style when it comes to the phone conversation. I know the one who phoned me wanted to shorten the conversation as much as possible so as to give me more time to enjoy my weekend. Perhaps you have someone you miss today, as I miss my parents who are no longer here with me.
When King David’s infant son died, David said:
“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Sam 12.22-23)
Humanly speaking, it’s difficult to move on and laugh when the sorrowful and remorseful emotions are still in us. Those departed won’t come back, but we will join them, instead.
We may have different backgrounds, but we are no different from each other, going through joys and sorrows. We all started walking with four limbs when young, and we end up walking with two legs and a cane. We all need tender loving care, and we are filled with brokenness. There are different theological opinions in Christianity even in the same denominations, but Christians are fundamentally one in God to be healed and restored by him.
Like those innovators featured in the billboard of Apple campaign who changed the world with their radical ideas, we, who believe in the triune God, are to think different from the ways the world thinks. Yet, we think the same to participate in the works of saints who modelled for us in the spirit of charity, love, and justice.
Recently we heard tragic news that Halloween festivities in the capital city of South Korea descended into chaos and turned into one of the country’s worst disasters, leaving at least 153 people dead and 103 people injured, with authorities declaring a national mourning period. This painful incident makes us stop and think about what it means to celebrate Halloween as we mourn for the victims and pray for the families of the deceased.
The Gospel reading for today is about the Beatitudes taken from Luke’s narrative (6.20-31). The Beatitudes are intertwined with the stories of the living who carry the deep sense of loss and pain. The Beatitudes are a message of true hope and consolation from the heavenly kingdom as we live in this world where death, despair, and fear are eminent.
We cherish within our souls the thoughts of those who have departed from us, while experiencing unavoidable sadness and emptiness that they have left in us. Such a mixed feeling is a form of union of physical and spiritual worlds.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh ~ Lk 6.21b
Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely our reward is great in heaven ~ Lk 6.23a
This echoes what King David said.
The term saint is originally derived from the Latin, sanctus, which literally means ‘holy ones.’ In New Testament writings, the term saint is applied generally to members of the Christian Church, made holy by baptism and striving to live, individually and communally, according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Later, however, the word became restricted to members of the Church triumphant, namely, those who, by grace, overcame temptation on earth, and, having embraced the beatitudes (Matt. 5:1–11) in this life, now rejoice to see God face to face in heaven.
The communion of saints (communio sanctorum), when referred to persons, is the spiritual union of the members of the Christian Church, living and the dead, but excluding the damned. They are all part of a single "mystical body", with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all. The belief in the communion of saints is affirmed in the Apostles' Creed. The word "sanctorum" in the phrase "communio sanctorum" can also be understood as referring to holy things, namely the blessings that the holy persons share with each other, including their faith, the sacraments and the other spiritual graces and gifts they have as Christians.
Ultimately, however, this universal call to holiness is an abiding communion with the trinity, a union of love among the three divine Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which continues to draw people from every race, tongue, walk of life, and personal aptitude to co-operate with the movements of grace in their lives.
We must renew our hearts, do good works each day, and seek spiritual growth in our earthly pilgrimage. However, it is not because of any merit on our part but in faith in Christ’s saving work that we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit. When we are aiming to live a holy life as God is holy, we are on the journey to sainthood, and we are “a chosen people, royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” who are called out of darkness into his marvelous light (cf. 1 Pet 2.9-10).
On the journey to sainthood, we think different to be salt and light, to bring the church to the community, and the community to the church, to equip new disciples, and to continue spreading hope, peace, justice and love of God. And the grace and mercy of God will respond where faith and doubt unite to care. Our hope is set on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring us when he is revealed.
Let’s pray: O Lord, transform our set of values from those of the world which stresses power and success to those of the Gospel, the Beatitudes.
Amen!