31ST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY YEAR A 2026
ALL SAINTS & SOULS – THE BEATITUDES
Mt 5.1-12a Apoc 7.2-4,9-14 1Jn 3.1-3
Unfortunately, to my mind, we miss out this weekend on Jesus’ all out attack on the religious leaders of his day, primarily the scribes and Pharisees, because of their hypocrisy and lack of humility and sense of service. Then again, today’s Gospel depicts the opposite spirit, as All Saints supplants the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time.
For the month of November, in front of the altar, we have the photos of those who have died this past year, most of whose funerals have been here in this church at St Therese’s. It’s always very sad to say a last farewell, but also important to keep our happy memories, with gratitude, and to appreciate what we have learned from them too.
This also reminds us that life is precious, as God’s gift to each of us, and that we are all called to be friends of Jesus and each other, as we try to follow his example in making good choices and doing our best to be people who share his love and think of others and not just ourselves, and, as I said to the grade 2’s and 3’s an 6’s on Friday, aren’t we all happier people, as a result?
While this weekend we celebrate All Saints, I always tie it in with All Souls, as we remember those who have loved us, and whom we have loved in return. We need to acknowledge that the canonised saints were not perfect people, but flawed human beings, like ourselves, but who achieved extraordinary things by the lives they led, as people of faith and action. Into this category, I add those whom we know to have lived good lives, done their best, and who have had a powerful influence on the people we are, as a result of their presence in our lives, the example they set, the love they shared and the memories they leave. So we give thanks and treasure the memories, as, in faith we commend them to our loving and merciful God.
Now, last weekend we had the fundamental teaching of Jesus summed up in the law of love of God and neighbour, inextricably linked, with vertical and horizontal axes graphically reflecting the connection. It could be described as looking up in prayer and reflection, and then looking around ourselves to get into action as responders to the call of discipleship and so mission of the Gospel. In fact, Jesus moves from the Beatitudes to the images of salt to the earth and light to the world, thereby challenging his hearers to act according to the principles he proclaims.
The Sermon on the Mount is said to be “a harmonious masterpiece of ethical and religious teaching”, where Jesus teaches with divine power and authority. There’s a suggested parallel with Moses on the mountain being presented with the Ten Commandments, and so commissioned with divine authority. But what is clear is that the Beatitudes, or positive attitudes, ‘Be-Attitudes’, as I like to call them, are of a very different style, with a frame of mind called for, where behaviour is to follow, with personal discernment and decision-making, in a non-judgemental way.
Luke’s Gospel has only 4 Beatitudes, relating to the poor, hungry, weeping and those who are hated because of their faith. Matthew spiritualizes these, to poor in spirit, hunger and thirst for righteousness, with 4 more spiritual beatitudes for the meek, merciful, pure in heart and peacemakers. We have heard them so often that the meaning can wash over us, without too much reflection or impact. Yet, there are clearly practical implications for you and me, in trying to apply them to our own lives.
The Jerome Biblical Commentary has the heading ‘The Exordium’ (meaning the introductory part, and a good new word for Scrabble!), for Matthew’s Beatitudes. In spiritualising Jesus’ teaching here, Matthew “changes the emphasis from social-economic to personal-moral: humility, detachment from wealth, voluntary poverty”, and so, care of the poor. As for the meek, it is suggested this means “slow to anger, gentle with others.” The mourners “mourn to see evil reign on earth.” (Far too much of that around at present!). Merciful refers to “the pardoning of one’s neighbour, to love, especially the needy, and even one’s enemies. All vengeance is excluded… Purity of heart stands close to justice, and includes covenant fidelity, loyalty to God’s commands, sincere worship. Peacemakers… a many-sided concept, involving total well-being… closely related to the love of neighbour… Matthew thus transforms a short messianic manifesto into a program of life, a list of desirable qualities or virtues… future eschatology predominates throughout.”
Yet, when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of heaven, he is also talking about life here and now, where we are following in his footsteps, giving others a fair go, and being respectful to all. We can all make a difference in trying to make our world a better place by living with the spirit of the positive attitudes Jesus teaches.
And that’s where we learn from the love and good example of those who have gone before us, as we remember and give thanks for them at this time of year, and always keep them in our hearts. It’s not just the saints we hear of who can do great things, as all of us can do our bit to make the world a better place.
At the same time, further thought can give us more insight into the thinking of Jesus, in encouraging a peace loving and conciliatory approach to all human relationships, Christian or not, in the spirit of the Beatitudes!! Jesus speaks of happiness, and being blessed by God, as coming from the way we think, pray, speak and act, as his friends.
So here’s to All Souls and All Saints, as we follow in their footsteps!!
john hannon 1st November 2026