IMITATING THE SAINTS: THE 4Ws and 1H

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS, NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

♫♫ When the saints are marching on, when the saints are marching on; Lord I want to be in the number; when the saints are marching on ♫♫.

WHO are the saints? There are at least four sequential meaning of the word saints: 1) all those who have been justified by the grace of Christ, whether they be living or dead; 2) those who, having been justified by Christ on earth, have entered into eternal life; 3) particular figures, especially biblical personages, who are examples of holiness; 4) those whom the Church, either through custom or formal canonization, has singled out as members of the church triumphant so that they may be commemorated in public worship (cf. McBrien R., Catholicism, p. 1109-1110). Today’s celebration focuses on the fourth level. 

It is about these people that the First Reading (Revelation 7:2-4.9-14) speaks. The saints are those who have actually persevered in holiness while they were on earth; and as a result, God gives them his grace of perseverance in eternal life. Thus, those “whom God has regenerated and effectually called to a state of grace, can neither totally nor finally fall away from that state, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved” (Berkhof L., Systematic Theology, p.545). Hence, they will be like God just as the Second Reading (1 John 3:1-3) says. These people come ‘from all tribes and peoples and tongues.’ The saints are countless, and would be gathered from every land. No land is excluded.

WHAT do they do? These saints stand before the throne and the lamb, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with loud voice ‘salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’, ...and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, ‘Amen, Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’ That is their work: worshipping and praising God in their state of eternal happiness. In this perfect state, and being more united to Christ, the Lamb, they fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness and never cease to intercede with the Father for us. There is a fraternal concern; and it is in this that our weakness is helped (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no.956)

WHERE do they stay? The saints are wherever God dwells. They are always before the throne and the Lamb. The question of ‘where’ may suggest a geographical location. This may bring about some puzzles in our minds as the search for a geographical location of God will tantamount to become a futile one. God dwells in heaven, and heaven is a state. Therefore, the question of where the saints are is the question as regards their status. Their status is purity. They have been made pure by God. God is purity himself, and anyone who hopes in Him he purifies (cf. 1John 3:3).

WHY are they called saints? These are those who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are called saints because they are pure and have made themselves pure through the lives they lived while on earth; a life of witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The whiteness of their robes is a signification of their victory, the victory gained from their love for purity.

HOW did they make it? They made it through the life of blessedness. They are those who have lived a blessed life; the life of the beatitudes, and hence have received their reward in heaven. The Gospel (Matt 5:1 -12a) dwells on this blessedness. The word blessed which is used in each of the beatitudes is a very special word. It is the Greek makarios. Makarios is the word which best describes the gods. The saints are godlike. Makarios describes too that joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life.

Sainthood is a life of blessedness, where the saints sing continuously the hymn of unending joy. This hymn which they sing is a triumphant one which ascribes salvation to God. It is God who has brought them through their trials and tribulations, and it is his glory which now they share. God is the great deliverer of his people. The saints are those who have endured many kinds of trouble and distress, and yet remain erect in God all through them because of which they now share in His glory.

As pilgrim Church on earth, we must imitate these saints in these five-finger questions. To the question of who the saints are, we must struggle to live lives that can lead us into becoming canonizable saints in the Church through our perseverance in the virtues of Jesus Christ. To the question of what they do, we must here on earth constantly and tirelessly sing and praise the Almighty God in adoration and perfect worship to him. To the question of where they are, we must make assiduous effort to always be in the presence of God. We must be zealous to go the house of God, which is the place we can find living saints in great numbers. The condition for joining the community of saints there in heaven is that we must have been acquitted with the community of saints here on earth. To the question of why they are saints, we must endeavour to endure our crosses, carrying them and following the cross, knowing richly well that if there is no cross, there will be no crown. And lastly, to the question of how they made it, we must make effort to live lives of blessedness (poor in spirit, pure in heart, peacemakers, merciful, mournful, martyrs, etc), in the consciousness that such lifestyle catapults us into the highest form of happiness which is in God. That is when you have truly become a makarios. Thus, I will be most happy to address all those who are reading this homily as makarios, in such a way that it becomes your title. Myself I wish too that you address me as makarios Onyeka. This I wish myself and you on this day as I abandon myself totally to the grace of God. I wish it to you even more. God bless you.