Dressed in white robes

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Consideration for XXXI Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B1

Those clad in white – who are they? Where did they come from?

Blessed means holy and happy. Who among us doesn’t want to be happy? I don’t think there is such a man. Everyone is looking for happiness. It is important to all people. Most would give a lot just to be happy. Each of us values happiness and would like to achieve it. We strive, we search, we set ourselves new goals, chasing even a little bit of this happiness. Nevertheless, each of us has a different understanding of being happy.

Having a job and material possessions appears to be the greatest happiness. You don’t have to worry about anything then. Everything… well, maybe you can buy almost anything. You can go everywhere. Everything is at your fingertips. All you have to do is want it. You can then also gain fame and power. The fact that you can rule someone, set them up according to your own example, brings joy and satisfaction. Being recognized among the crowd is not anonymous, one of many is satisfying. You can then do whatever you want with unlimited use of your freedom. After all, it is known to all and sundry that it will be forgiven or at least explained. And when you are young and healthy, the whole world is yours. Live not die, eternal happiness here on earth. But … as it was said recently in one of the TV shows: you have everything … too bad you have so little time …

Even when there is no job, money, fame or power, you too want to be happy. He then looks for easier forms of happiness. You can always drink something, eat something, spend time in front of the computer, playing or chatting on the Internet. For a moment it seems that this happiness has caught “by the feet”, the world has become more beautiful, more colorful and kinder. For a moment, man lost himself in this world, but one must return to earth again, to a earth full of evil, bitterness, anger, pain, emptiness. There are less and less of these moments of “happiness”, you have to strive for them more and more, and the return is more and more painful.

Does Jesus bless this happiness? Does he promise such happy people a great reward in heaven? Will they meet among those dressed in white robes? The Gospel shows us Jesus who came out on the mountain and teaches the crowd gathered around, among whom are also the apostles:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will own the land.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. “

Jesus blesses a man of pure heart, humble, sensitive, merciful, who does not repay evil for evil, who wants justice and brings peace among people, who, in the name of professed values, can suffer persecution. Can such a person be young, healthy, have a family, have a job and material goods, be famous and exercise power? Sure it can. Yet he must be ready that at any moment these temporal goods may turn away from him, may be deprived of them. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get rid of them. Because what is left then? Emptiness, anger, anger, despair, misfortune … In such situations, one forgets about the blessing. It is so today, but it was so in Jesus’ day. In the young man who comes to Jesus (Mt 19, 16-21), we can recognize every person of every time who approaches God consciously or unconsciously and asks about the perfect life here on earth, about its full meaning. Such a question refers to the Absolute Good, which is God Himself. It is he who calls us, is the source and goal of human life. Everything that a person has is a gift from God for him, and the greatest wealth he can have is being with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Elsewhere (Luke 10: 25-37), the knower of the Law asks Jesus what he should do in order to have eternal life. The teacher does not answer directly, but encourages you to look for an answer, to make the effort. The scribe answers himself: “You will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus indicates the love of God and the love of neighbor, reminding us that only being faithful to the Love – God leads to eternal life. Charity is the fruit of God’s love. But on the other hand, if man does not love another person whom he sees, he cannot love God whom he does not see (cf. 1 Jn 4: 19-21). It is not easy to love your neighbor as yourself. It often turns out that people are self-centered, false, forget, don’t want love and use … Can you love such people?

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, bearing in mind the blessings of Jesus, writes:

People are irrational, illogical, self-centered.

Never mind – love them.

If you do good, they will assign you hidden selfish goals.

Never mind – do good.

If you pursue your goals, you will meet false friends and real enemies.

Never mind – pursue it.

The good you have done will be forgotten tomorrow.

Never mind – do good.

Honesty and sincerity will make you vulnerable.

Never mind – be honest and honest.

What you have been building over the years can be destroyed in an instant.

Never mind – build.

If you help the people, they will be offended.

Never mind – help them.

If you give your best to serve the world, they will give you a kick.

Never mind – try your best.

Well, all the wealth of Jesus is His Father. Everything Jesus does is in relation to God – the Eternal Father. It is His will that He fulfills in spite of the adversities and inconveniences of this world. The Apostle Peter wrote about him: “when he was cursed, he did not curse. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but gave himself to him who judges righteously” (cf. 1 Pet 2:23). Although he was tormented through no fault of his own, he did not rebel or shout (cf. Is 53: 7). He came to earth to lead us all on the path of righteousness (cf. Mt 5:20) … just like a tax collector (cf. Lk 18: 9-14). In his sensitivity he was moved and wept over the tomb of Lazarus, over the sins of Jerusalem, that is, over the sins of all of us. Jesus bent over the lepers, took pity on the harlot, was constantly surrounded by the sick and needy. He was like a Shepherd looking after his sheep. His love and sensitivity led him to the cross. He was comforted because he has redeemed us. He – the Son of God brought redemption and God’s childhood to man. Jesus has the power to give God’s kingdom to all of us. It can be said that the Eight Beatitudes are like a self-portrait of the Lord Jesus, but they are also a call to follow Him.

Jesus was the first to show the attitude that is described in the Beatitudes, he showed us what is the reward for trying and living them on earth. Jesus does not bless human difficulties and misfortunes; blesses them to bear them for the sake of Christ, for his kingdom, that is, for the sake of the truth in its final dimension, for the true good, for the sake of love. The blessings therefore apply to people who live by hope, and this hope gives them the strength to endure the most difficult times. Saint John in his Letter (1 Jn 3: 2) recalls:

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, but it is not yet revealed what we will be.” It reminds us of how much love God the Father has given us. We are already God’s children here on earth. We are called to do His will. He knows what is best for us and what is valuable. Our task is to listen to and fulfill God’s will in our lives. Our life and this. what happens in it is a grace, a gift of God for us. As we walk through this earthly life, each of us is called to place our hope in God. God is holy. As we walk up the hill of our lives with an attitude inscribed in the blessings of Jesus and with hope, we also sanctify ourselves, we become happy because He is the goal of this journey.

Saint John also depicts eternal life (Rev 7: 9-10) as a reward for us for following the path of blessings that leads uphill and leads to the top:

“Then I saw a great crowd, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They are clothed in white robes and in their hand palms. And with a loud voice they cry: “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” “.

This being before the throne of God, wearing white clothes and a palm tree in hand, is the greatest happiness and joy for a believer. The Apocalypse says about being in the glory of God, to whom all worship (Rev 7:12): «Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever. Amen ».

This perspective allows us to live properly the Memory of All the Dead, especially those who are close to us. What they experienced here was only a preparation for the real life. By death they were separated from their earthly cares, which they lived in the hope of being among the crowd gathered at the heavenly banquet. This hope also allows us to calmly stand over their graves and join them in prayer. We all know that the life we have here on earth is just a brief episode in our journey towards eternity. Walking on the cemetery ground, today we are aware of the fragility and shortness of earthly life, and of the value of suffering, which often preceded the departure of our relatives from this earth. We reflect on the mystery of death and the pain of parting. For this to be the case, the path of the blessings must be made the path of our life and on this path its full meaning must be discovered.

On the Solemnity of All Saints, the Church in its liturgical readings shows us the multitude of people who have already reached this summit. On this day, all those who responded to God’s call, all those who said YES to God, celebrate their “name day”. Among them there are those whom we consider to be great in this world, but there are also those whom only we know about: me, you. They lived among us, they were next to us. They all seem to speak with one voice so as not to think that holiness is about doing great things. Holiness is love that manifests itself in doing small things every day. After all, Jesus said that if we can be faithful in small things, we will also be faithful in much (cf. Mt 16:10). Saints do not need to study, do not have to have any career, do not have to have any great talents, but they do have to possess one perfectly – a culture of everyday life based on love.

It is from the daily relationship with God and with other people that saints grow. They are characterized by kindness and understanding of other people, culture of speech, discussion, dressing, culture of being: love and sensitivity, bringing peace and joy, and being infected with serenity. It all determines the greatness of a person, it all goes hand in hand with the blessing of Jesus. Sure it’s not easy. Sure, man is not ideal. Sure, our lives are accompanied by sin. Holy people are not people without sin. Holy people are those who accepted the election of God, entered the path of blessing, and care for relationships with Jesus and other people. “They are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). Holy people are those who have accepted Jesus and the redemption he brought into their mortal life, and, following the path of blessings, hope to be among the crowds gathered at the heavenly banquet at the throne of God and the Lamb.