November 1, 2020
Fr. John Mary’s homily on All Saints Day, Sunday, November 1, 2020. Fr. discusses the difficult journey in this life and the confusion, frustration and sometimes despair many people experience. The Saints are there to help and encourage us since they also climbed the same difficult path to reach the Kingdom of God.
Key Points
- Life’s struggles can resemble a large mountain, sometimes shrouded in a fog and a mystery to us.
- We can feel discouraged, lonely and frustrate. But when we see the fog lift, we can see the beautiful, strong souls who have witnessed our struggles.
- The Holy Spirit is with us and inside of us to help us trust in Him.
- The fog was necessary for us not to figure out the path for ourselves, but to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
- In Revelation when the fog was opened for St. John, he saw what is waiting for us.
- During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, great multitudes of Saints along with our Blessed Virgin Mother are present to encourage and help us as we continue through difficult times.
Summary
Father John Mary compares a story about the difficulty of life to climbing a mountain and not being able to see the top. At one point while climbing, the fog is lifted for a moment, allowing the people who have reached the final summit to be seen and heard and allows encouragement and faith to continue. This story relates to our struggles and how the Saints who lived before, help lead us to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and help us reach eternal happiness.
In the book of Revelations, John was given to see what is awaiting us as he talks about seeing great multitudes clothed in white robes. These are the ones that survived the times of great tribulations and “…they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.
All Saints Day – Two days away from a critical election – God’s providence gives us the Feast of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls – prayed about what to preach- great mountain of mystery – can’t see the top, because it’s shrouded in thick clouds – so you decide to try to climb the mountain – long climb, hard, dangerous – as you climb you enter a thick fog – hard to know where to go, how far to go – sometimes feel like you are losing the path – becoming exhausted, discouraged, lonely – think maybe this climb isn’t for you, maybe for mountain climbers who are not afraid – I shouldn’t be here, too difficult – never going to make it – is it even possible, is there a way up? – maybe should turn around and go back down – about to give up, but for a moment fog clears – can see way up in the distance, the summit – see many people at the summit, some you have known and some you haven’t known – some shared same struggles you have – maybe some have already died – you see them now, strong and beautiful -all of the people are radiant and happy – they had been where you are right now – so know it is possible to get there, to where they are – even possible for someone like you – can hear their voices, encouraging you – saying we made it and you can make it, too – they are advising you that the Holy Spirit is there to help you, you can’t see Him – trust Him, He is inside of you – walk with Him, He knows the way – when you feel you can’t go on any longer, He will help you – this encourages you, it is not as far as you had thought – it’s not impossible – the fog was necessary because it helped us not to try to figure the path out by our self – but to let the Holy Spirit guide us – He knows the secret ways – then the fog comes back, and you are surrounded by it – but now you know what is hidden by the fog – what is up there – this is what faith does, what the Feast of All Saints does – permits us to see beyond the fog – to know what is up there – St. John in second reading says “we are God’s children now, but what we shall be has not yet been revealed” – we are not yet able to see what is awaiting us – but to St. John was given a great moment in which the great fog was opened for him, that’s his great book of Revelation – he was given to see what is awaiting us – it was given not just for him, but for us – in first reading of Revelations – talks about seeing great multitude clothed in white robes, and these are the ones that survived the times of great tribulations – “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” – we are living in times of stress and tribulation – Saints today, encourage and help us, along with our Blessed Mother– great multitudes present with us – especially as we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – in which the blood of the Lamb continues to flow – their presence may help all of us and the Church, with the tribulations inside the Church, all our country is going through – as we continue this difficult times – strengthen us with the hope of glory – Father reread the great vision that John gave us in Revelations –
