Reflection for Saturday November 1 Solemnity of All Saints: Matthew 5:1-12a

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “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.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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Reflection:

What is the true objective of our life? Is it limited only to the enjoyment of the things of this world? There is a deeper and more meaningful life that lies beneath this superficial one. Yet we will never discover its true essence unless we learn to detach ourselves from worldly attachments and begin to embrace the teachings of Jesus.

What does it really mean to be poor in spirit, and why is it a blessing? Just as the literally poor rely on the generosity of others to sustain themselves, to be poor in spirit means that we depend completely on Jesus for everything—most especially for our spiritual nourishment.

To be poor in spirit is to recognize that apart from Jesus, we are nothing. It means acknowledging that all we have and all we are come from Him. We rely on His goodness and mercy. We hunger and thirst for His presence to fill the emptiness of our hearts so that He may enrich us spiritually and transform our lives with His love.

Today, as we celebrate All Saints’ Day, we solemnly remember the saints—those faithful men and women who generously gave their lives for the mission of Jesus. The saints were not perfect; they struggled with sin just as we do. Yet, through humility and surrender, they triumphed with the help of God’s grace.

The saints became saints because they recognized their spiritual poverty. They realized that life is empty and meaningless without the presence and guidance of Jesus. Like them, we, too, are called to holiness—not through perfection, but through humility, repentance, and an openness to God’s transforming love.

We can all become saints in our own simple and quiet ways—when we acknowledge our own poverty of spirit, when we invite Jesus into our hearts, and when we allow Him to fill our emptiness with His peace, joy, and love.

Are we ready to let go of our pride, recognize our need for God, and allow Jesus to fill our hearts so that we, too, may live as His saints in the world today? — Marino J. Dasmarinas