Posts
(01.11.2009)
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Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven”
The word of God this evening tells us that we are special to God. We are special to Him not because of what we have done or what we are trying to do. We are all special to Him because He has done everything for us.
That is why in the Gospel Jesus talks of the blessing of all - the beatitudes - who are admitted into the presence of God. You know, the criteria to be admitted into the presence of God do not prevent anyone.
Imagine you are to go to street, to the bus-stop, and you meet ten people. Of these ten people you meet, all of them will meet the requirements in the beatitudes: some are suffering, some are broken hearted, some are poor, some are lost and many are suffering. All are admitted into the presence of God, and this is what we celebrate – the feast of All Saints.
We are all, saints! We are saints because we are God’s children. As God’s children, we partake in the life of God. You know, as human persons, we have tremendous influence and even power to support and to encourage one another. I think this is one of the greatest demonstrations that we are saints, that we are children of God. Because even without knowing it, without intending it, we do convey, we do pass on God’s life, especially the power of His love.
In this holy mass, our Lord comes to us. It is His coming to us that makes us His saints. It is Him changing Himself into bread for us that makes us children of God. But this truth will have no impact unless and until we allow this God who comes to us to do the mighty deeds in our life.
In other words, our greatness is not so much what we can do. Our greatness lies in our willingness to allow Him who is mighty to do all the mighty deeds in our life. And that is why St Paul can say “It is when we are weak that we are strong”. It is true. God is not so much concerned with our strength, our greatness. He is very concerned with our pain, with our brokenness, with our weakness, because it is here where He is most powerful. And this is what we celebrate.
In this holy mass, our Lord comes to us. As we listen to His word, as we receive Him, we empty ourselves so that He can fill us, so that He can work wonders in our life. We trust in Him. We entrust our life, our struggle, our fear, our pain, our anguish, our brokenness. It is in our brokenness, in our pain and in our suffering that our God works most powerfully. We entrust ourselves to Him. We open ourselves to Him.
When we are open to Him, it is not only God who will be at work in us. He will send His saints. He will send His … His friends, His children to affirm, to strengthen and even to bring His healing to us. What a loving God we have.
And as we come into His presence, I’d like you to listen to the words of this song. May it speak to you of the greatness of God that is in you and the power of God’s love at work in all His children.
Video song: “Because You Loved Me”
It is true that we do image God to those around us. We are not perfect. Even with our brokenness, with our limitations, we all still can reflect, can image God to others. And this is what the church celebrates.
It is true that we are all saints of God. And we are all His saints, because we have a God who loves us. To this loving God, together now we stand and profess our faith in Him - The Apostles’ Creed.
Rev Fr Stephen Lim
Holy Trinity Church, Kuching
