Homily: November 1, 2026, Solemnity of all saints

 “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

On this Solemnity of All Saints, we remember that great multitude of men and women who have gone before us and are now with God in heaven. And they want us to be there with them one day.

St. John, in his vision, sees a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.

Today’s feast reminds us of the ultimate purpose of our life: to become saints and to be with God forever.

When we think about the saints, one thing is very interesting. No two saints are alike. They came from different backgrounds, lived in different circumstances, faced different struggles, and followed different paths. You and I are also called to become saints.

But sometimes, when we look at the saints, we become discouraged. We look at their sacrifices, their holiness, and their extraordinary lives, and then we look at our own struggles and weaknesses. We begin to think, "I could never become like them."

But we forget something important. The saints were not born saints. They were people like us. 

What made them saints was not that they were perfect, but that they allowed God to work in their lives.

Two things to remember today 

First, holiness is not simply something we accomplish by ourselves. It is something God accomplishes in us when we cooperate with His grace.

In today's second reading, St. John reminds us, "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God."

We are already God's children. We don't have to do extraordinary things every day. Sometimes holiness is simply being patient with someone, forgiving someone who has hurt us, caring for our family, helping someone in need, or remaining faithful when life becomes difficult.

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. He does not say, "Blessed are the rich, the powerful, or those who have everything they want." Instead, He says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, the merciful, the clean of heart, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."

This is the path to holiness. It is not always an easy path. As the first reading reminds us, the saints are those who have come through great distress. Their lives remind us that sacrifice and salvation are deeply connected. 

Second, we are not alone on this journey.

We belong to a much bigger family, the communion of saints. All those men and women who have gone before us are not simply people we remember from history. They are our brothers and sisters in heaven, praying for us and cheering us on.

When we face struggles and difficulties, we can always turn to them for their intercession. We are never alone on our journey to holiness.

So, keep doing the good things you are already doing. Keep showing up. Keep loving. Keep forgiving. Keep serving. Even when it is difficult, keep going.

Don't become discouraged by your weaknesses. Don't compare your journey with someone else's. God has a unique path to holiness for each one of us.

And above all, remember that sainthood is not just about what we are doing for God. It is about what God is doing in us and through us when we surrender ourselves to Him.

One day, by God's grace, may you and I also be part of that great multitude St. John saw, standing before the throne of God, together with all the angels and saints.

Amen.