Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Donna Del Santo
(John Nava’s Communion of the Saints tapestries at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles)
Opening Prayer
Psalm 24 Adapted by Nan C. Merrill
The earth is yours, O Giver of Life, in all its fullness and glory, the world and all those who dwell therein; For You have founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend your hill, Gracious One? and who shall stand in your holy place? All who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, nor make vows deceitfully. All these will be blessed by the Heart of Love and renewed through forgiveness. Such is the promise to those who seek Love’s face.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the Compassionate One may come in. Who is the Compassionate One? The Beloved, strong and steadfast, the Beloved, firm and sure! Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the Compassionate One may come in!
Who is this Compassionate One? The Beloved, Heart of your heart, Life of your life, this is the Compassionate One!
Reading
Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Reflection
The Gospel chosen, for the feast of All Saints, is the Beatitudes, which form the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. The root of the English word “beatitude” means “beauty” and the Greek term for it implies attractiveness —literally, an attraction toward divine beauty. Even more, the Beatitudes are a charter for holiness.
These be-attitudes or “attitudes to be” are a way, a formula, for us to follow as a means to grow in the way of Jesus on a daily basis. We want these attitudes to change our character – to help our spiritual selves shine through the material beliefs that too often, try to cloud who God desires us to be.
Take time with the beatitudes and consider what meaning and beauty they have for you and how you have seen them lived out in the Communion of Saints who have gone before you, like a family member, teacher, friend or a person of inspiration.
These qualities go far beyond what is required just to be a good person; they guide us in the ways Christ expects us to transform the world. The beatitudes can really raise the bar as to how we live our life; the question we need to answer is, “Am I willing to reach for it?”
Closing Prayer
God of the Generations by Jan Richardson
God of the generations,
when we set our hands to labor,
thinking we work alone,
remind us that we carry
on our lips
the words of prophets,
in our veins
the blood of martyrs,
in our eyes
the mystics’ visions,
in our hands
the strength of thousands.
A blessed All Saints Day to you! On this day, in this season, in the company of the Communion of Saints, may you find yourself in a thin, thin place where heaven and earth meet, and you receive what you need for the path ahead.
John Nava’s Communion of the Saints tapestries at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles
