Pro-life Preaching Hints

November 1 - Solemnity of All Saints

Rv 7:2-4, 9-14
1 Jn 3: 1-3
Mt 5: 1-12a

One could say that this is a Feast of Perspective, of renewing our focus on what really matters, and of realizing that our human way of thinking is not God's way. The eschatological perspective provided by the Book of Revelation in the first reading, the words of John in the second reading showing us the essence of holiness, and the lesson of the Beatitudes that keeps reminding us how we usually get things upside-down, all contribute to this perspective. And it is not just a matter of how we see things, but of where our passion is, as the Psalm makes clear. We are the people that longs to see God's face. That's the driving force behind our worship, our daily activities, and the manner in which we handle our daily trials.

When we have the perspective of the saints, we can see why people are more important than things, and why the most neglected of people -- who in our society are the unborn -- are in fact most worthy of our attention and service. The saints lived the Beatitudes, by first of all weeping over the evils in themselves and in the world. Have we wept for the oppressed? Have we shed tears for the unborn? Have we, like the saints, allowed our hearts to be broken open, so that God can pour into them the compassion and active love necessary to meet our neighbors' needs?

The saints, having done this, thirsted for holiness (for themselves) and for justice (for others). They did precisely what the Church does today in speaking up for the helpless. It's not simply a political agenda. Rather, it's part of longing to see God's face. We do see his face in the poor, the oppressed, the forgotten, the unborn -- and because we see his face there, we serve our neighbor and we proclaim to others that God is there. And when we live a life of fidelity in doing that, we end up seeing God face to face for all eternity.

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