We recall the Solemnity of All Saints every year in our liturgical calendar. It is a reminder for all of us to continue to live our call to be holy and to be part of the Communion of Saints. On this occasion, we remember not only those who have been canonized as saints, but also all those who have lived a holy life. We also recall the members of our family and persons known to us who have served as inspiration as we deepen our faith and our belief in the eternity of our goal and our final destiny. From their examples, we see how to live a life pleasing to God.

The readings this Sunday on the Solemn Feast of All Saints reminds us of the glory that awaits everyone in heaven. It tells us that heaven is a place where people from all countries and backgrounds will be able to celebrate God’s glory when we live in sanctity, when we give witness to Jesus’ Gospel and His message of hope and love.

But how we can live in sanctity? How can we give witness to Jesus’ Gospel and his message of hope and love? The gospel this Sunday shows us HOW. It is the way of the BEATITUDES … 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. Understanding this sermon of Jesus on the mount about BEATITUDES is to look with the EYES of FAITH. In this way, we can understand that despite one’s affliction, we can be actually blessed. Yes, we are actually BLESSED, no matter what kind of afflictions we experience, as long as we suffer for the cause of the Gospel or for the sake of the kingdom. We can still REJOICE, holding on to FAITH that there is a great REWARD awaiting all of us in heaven.

Let us then invoke the heavenly assistance of all the saints in heaven to help us live in the spirit of Beatitudes, that our actions here on earth mirrors God’s gift of HOLINESS. We are called to be holy because God is holy and to be Holy is to be Happy.

On the first day of the novena to Blessed Francisco Palau, we ponder what it means to be happy for Bl. Francisco Palau. We all learned from him that the greatest HAPPINESS is to believe in Him and to love him (My Relationships 21,7). For us, his daughters, to be HAPPY is to live in Communion… COMMUNION of God and neighbor. There is no greater and other happiness for us CMT and as daughters of Fr. Palau, than to find ourselves in peace with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters. By this, we experience HOLINESS here on earth. We can be united and in communion with God through our unity and communion with one another.

In closing, I am posing these questions to help us in our personal examination of conscience:

WHAT IS MY GREATEST HAPPINESS? DO PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS HAPPINESS WITH ME WHEN I RELATE OR DEAL WITH THEM?

Finally, I invite everyone to help each other to be blessed and be happy in our life journey of faith. Let us not allow sadness to ruin our COMMUNION with one another. According to the newly beatified saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis, cyber apostle of the Eucharist, SADNESS is when you look at yourself and HAPPINESS is when you look at God. Let us look at God and let us seek the things that matter in and for the kingdom. He has called us to be Happy, to be saints in the here and now.

Sr. Claire Marie R. Sy, CMT
Bl. Francisco Palau Community
Manila, Philippines