Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - November 1, 2020 - All Saints

SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2020 SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14, Psalm 23:1-6, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 YOU TOO CAN BE A SAINT Today we celebrate all those who have struggled through the vicissitudes of life like us, and were able to please God, and were found worthy to be in heaven. In the early church, the surest way to make heaven was through martyrdom. Therefore all those who gave up their lives in witness to the gospel were automatically regarded as saints. There was therefore a feast of the martyrs. Later on, it became clear that many people live a very good and Holy life worthy of sainthood; therefore holiness and sanctity of life became very important. In the Church, we celebrate many holy men and women who have showed example of a good Christian life. Some are priests and religious, while others are not. We have those that have been canonized, beatified and the venerable. At the same time, there are many saints the church have canonized that are not fully celebrated in the Liturgical calendar, as well as countless number of people who are saints but are not officially canonized in the church. This includes many of our ancestors who following the dictates of their conscience, lived a very good life. In the first reading of today, we see the vision of John. How he saw a huge number of people impossible to count, coming from different nations, race, abd tribe trooping into heaven. They were wearing white robes and were standing in front of the throne rejoicing and praising God. These people represent those described in the psalm of today, that only those with clean hands and pure heart can climb the mountain of God. St Paul tells us in the second reading to live a good life and be conscious that we are children of God. It is only by living a good life that on that day we shall be like him, we shall see him as he really is. We must therefore purify ourselves so as to be pure like christ. In the gospel reading, Jesus tells us that the way to sainthood and to heaven is a very special one. It is not an easy path. It is filled with some turbulence. Persecution, suffering misunderstanding, false accusations, isolation and others. We should be ready for these challenges. Jesus told us in Matthew 7:13-14 to follow the narrow path that leads to heaven even if it is difficult to pass through it. Only few are actually ready to pass through it. The road to heaven and sainthood is actually not difficult if not for the pleasures of this world that tend to take our minds and hearts away from God. The saints we celebrate today were human beings like us with flesh and blood, they struggled with sin like us. We too can overcome sin and make heaven. God help us. Amen. Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP