Comments on the Second Reading of the Mass for All Saints

The SOLEMNITY of ALL the SAINTS

SECOND READING

I John 3:1-3 (Douai-Rheims translation)

¹Behold what manner of charity the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it knew not Him. ² Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it has not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when He shall appear, we shall be like to Him: because we shall see Him as He is. ³ And every one that has this hope in Him, sanctifies himself, as He also is holy.

By the Blood of the Lamb, which has won for us the transforming grace poured out by the Holy Spirit, we have been recreated and really become children of God. We “share in the divine nature”. We are to “be merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful”. We are “sons in the Son”, sons and daughters of God in Christ. We are “children of God through Faith.”

Holiness is –yes– first of all a grace. But we must ask for an ever greater outpouring of Charity in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And we must cooperate. Each and all of us are called to be holy, to be holy as He is holy. Impossible? Not for God!  “O Lord, you are all powerful. Make me a saint!” (St Alphonsus).