Everyone who has this hope…
What is our hope?
What is our hope?
In the time of King David, anyone who approached the temple had to respond to a series of questions before they would be allowed in. Psalm 24 speaks of the people that longs to see the Lord’s face. Are we ready to stand before the Lord, ready to see God face to face? Do we clearly desire to be in his presence, and if so, are we dedicated to doing his will? Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? the psalmist asks. One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
The saints are those who we believe have been brought into the blessing of God’s presence. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount offers a series of blessings, or beatitudes, designed to help us to know that blessing one day as well. We are to be poor in spirit, surrendering ourselves in spirit to our dependence upon God, renouncing all desire for power and thus remaining meek in the eyes of God, opening our hearts – our clean hearts – in mercy and making peace for all by revealing the love of God as something we all hold in common. Like the saints, we hope that our reward will be great in heaven, that we might see the face of God.
As the author of the First Letter of St. John writes, what we shall be has not yet been revealed. But right now, we know the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we might be called the children of God, and that is a tremendous blessing indeed. And so we hope for salvation, making ourselves pure, as he is pure, striving to become the very image of God.
Many have entered the Kingdom of God before us – a great multitude, the Book of Revelation tells us – and are standing before the throne and before the Lamb, worshipping God. We too hope to be marked with the seal of the living God, marked as belonging to God, and thus ready for perfect union in heaven. May this Solemnity of All Saints offer us encouragement, that we might stay true to our hope, remaining faithful to our God forever, that our blessings may be eternal!
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture Class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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