October 31 2017 - All Hallow's Eve

It is All Hallow’s Eve—the vigil of the Feast of the Hallowed Ones, the Saints—the Church’s answer to the festivals of the ancient pagans who believed that about halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, the veil between the living and the dead was thinned and the spirits could walk freely in our world.  It is not hard to understand why they thought this: with the changing of the seasons, it looks like nature is dying, and the creepy images flickering in the shadows of autumn bonfires.

The pagans would wear costumes to disguise themselves and even frighten off the spirits. But, the souls we prepare to celebrate on All Saints’ Day tomorrow, of course, are not spirits of mischief, spirits that we flee from, but rather, we flee too. We look to their example and seek their prayers.

The saints are like the mustard seeds and the leaven Jesus describes in our Gospel parables today. They are often small, ordinary people who transform a culture from the inside like yeast within dough. The tiny yeast slowly, imperceptibly, yet effectively causes a massive amount of dough to rise. Similarly, the saints. They touch lives with their goodness. They build up the Church around them. They are active agents of the grace of God.

I think particularly of the Saint whom we began the month of October celebrating: the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. She led a radically hidden, small life. This obscure little nun from the corner of France is now honored as a doctor of the Church and the Patron Saint of Missionary Work.  Her spirituality, her teaching, permeates Catholic Christianity, helping ordinary Catholics to realize that they too can grow in holiness by doing small things with great love.

Sometimes we can become discouraged by the slow progress of the kingdom of God, the slow working of grace in our world and our family. So we continue to look to the Saints, to show us how ordinary people can bring about extraordinary goodness, when surrendered to the grace of God.
Small acts of kindness and compassion do matter in the eyes of God, and do have a tremendous power to transform hearts and families and nations. As we prepare for the great Feast of the Saints, may we be aided by their examples and prayers in making God’s grace and mercy visible in the ordinary circumstances of our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the godlessness of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for deceased clergy and religious, for those who have fought and died for our freedom, we pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, hear our prayers. May the grace of Christ Your Son, the Divine Physician, bring healing of our sinfulness, and make us worthy of the kingdom of heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.