WE DIE TO LIVE, NOT TO PERISH

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS, 2018

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

We die not to perish but to live. The feast of All saints sounds a strong bell of the life-after. The saints are those who have been declared pure by God in heaven. Having made sincere efforts to be pure on earth, God grants them the supreme purity in heaven. Yes, we believe in the communion of the saints. It is a feast that reminds us that the Church is not limited to the pilgrim Church on earth. However, from the First Reading of today, we discover that the Feast reminds us of the need for identification. Identification is a major sign that denotes belongingness. Many, if not all of the human society have something with which her members are identified. Schools have badges, stamps, logo, motto, uniforms, etc. Companies have their trademarks. Countries have their flags and coat of arms. There are some images that imprint unto our mind the existence of a particular group or society. These signs, images, trademarks are seals that help to authenticate membership in these organization. Again, the seals are used to denote the visions and the mission of the said group.

The First Reading (Rev. 7:2-4, 9-14) talks about the greatest of all the seal, the seal of the heaven citizenry. Every great seal denotes membership. It reminds the members of their vision and it is an insignia for authentication. God will give the command. That command will be to delay the judgement of the great tribulation until all the saints are sealed. The seal here means the mark of possession/ownership, authority, power, protection and preservation. In ancient times, a king’s ring was his seal. He would stamp the mark of his ring on all official documents showing their possession, authority and power. This is certainly one of the meanings the seal in the first reading bears. In Genesis 41:42, Pharaoh took his ring and put it on Joseph’s hand as a sign of power and authority (cf. Also Esther 3:10, 8:2). In the case of Daniel, King Darius confirmed his proclamation after the divine liberty of Daniel from the den with his signet ring marked on the stone that was laid on the mouth of the den (Dan. 6:17).

The number of those marked with this seal in the book of Revelation is numbered 144, 000. How? The number, 144, 000 does not denote strictly a numerical populace for heaven. It denotes completeness and perfection, and not limitation. It is made up of 12 multiplied by 12 –the perfect square; and being rendered more inclusive and complete by being multiplied by 1,000. These numbers tells us that the number of those to be saved will be great, not small. In the New Testament, the Christian is sealed with the spirit of God; that is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guarantees that we belong to God. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is the seal that guarantees his/her acquittal in the face of the judgement of God. Having this seal is a sign of blessedness. It is God who has put his seal on us and given us his spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22).

In John’s vision in the First Reading, these men who have been marked with the greatest seal together with the angels praised God and sang to his honour. They have lived a life of blessedness while on earth (cf. The Gospel, Mathew 5: 10-12). But in what does the life of blessedness directed to? The beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect now as well as in eternity. If you like, being declared eternally blessed entails being marked with the seal of life. Thus, the people that have been marked with the greatest seal means that they have come out from the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb and thus have made them white.

The picture of robes made white by being washed in the blood of the lamb is paradoxical. This paradox can be a way of saying that this victory and purity were won in the power and at the cost of all Jesus did for men in his life and death. They are martyrs who gave up their lives for the sake of Christ. The clothing of all believers colours white, which stands for purity and perfection. When the Bible speaks about the blood of Jesus Christ, it speaks not only about death but also about his life. We die to live. The blood of Christ stands for all the redemptive acts of Christ in his life and deeds. The blood of Christ cleanses all sins (1 John 1:7) and redeems us (Ephesians 1:7).

The desire of every one of us is to be among these saints that are in white robes. It is the wish of every Christian. To be counted as one, we need to live the life of blessedness. It will be pitiable if our names are lost to Sheol in death after we have lived luxuriously on earth. We need to be in the great number of saints that are marching on and singing honourable hymns to our God. The feast of All Saints reminds all of us of our double citizenship and of the need to struggle that we become citizens of both. May we be reinvigorated for a life worthy of sainthood. Amen. Surely, everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, and must try to be as pure as Christ (1John 3:1-3). God bless you and Happy Feast day.