MASS ON THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS

Verano Cemetery, Rome

Sunday, November 1, 2015

In the Gospel, we heard Jesus teaching his disciples and the crowd gathered on the hill by the Sea of Galilee (cf. Mt 5:1-12). The word of the risen and living Lord also shows us, today, the way to true beatitude, the way that leads to Heaven. It is a difficult path to understand because it goes against the grain, but the Lord tells us that whoever takes this path is happy; sooner or later, they become happy.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We might wonder how a person with a poor soul, whose only treasure is the kingdom of heaven, can be happy. But the reason is precisely this: having a heart stripped bare and free from many worldly things, this person is “awaited” in the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” How can those who weep be happy? And yet, those who have never experienced sadness, anguish, or pain in their lives will never know the power of consolation. Blessed, on the other hand, are those who have the capacity to be moved, the capacity to feel in their hearts the pain that exists in their own lives and in the lives of others. These will be happy! Because the tender hand of God the Father will comfort and caress them.

“Blessed are the meek.” And we, on the contrary, how often are we impatient, nervous, always ready to complain! We have many demands on others, but when they affect us, we react by raising our voices, as if we were masters of the world, when in reality, we are all children of God. Let us think instead of those mothers and fathers who are so patient with their children who “drive them crazy.” This is the way of the Lord: the way of meekness and patience. Jesus walked this path: as a child, he endured persecution and exile, then, as an adult, slander, traps, and false accusations in court; and he endured all of this with meekness. Out of love for us, he even endured the cross.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Yes, those who have a deep sense of justice, not only towards others but above all towards themselves, will be satisfied, because they are ready to receive the greatest justice, the one that only God can give.

And then, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Blessed are those who know how to forgive, who have mercy on others, who don't judge everything and everyone, but who try to put themselves in others' shoes. Forgiveness is what we all need; no one is excluded. That's why, at the beginning of Mass, we acknowledge ourselves as we are, that is, sinners. And this isn't just a figure of speech, a formality: it's an act of truth. “Lord, here I am, have mercy on me.” And if we know how to give others the forgiveness we ask for ourselves, we are blessed. As we say in the Lord's Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Let us look at the faces of those who go about sowing discord: are they happy? Are those who are always looking for opportunities to create confusion, to take advantage of others, happy? No, they cannot be happy. On the other hand, those who, daily and patiently, seek to sow peace, are peacemakers, agents of reconciliation; they, yes, are happy, because they are the true children of our Heavenly Father, who always and only sows peace, to the point of having sent his Son into the world as the seed of peace for humanity.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is the path to holiness, and it is the very path to happiness. It is the path Jesus walked, or rather, he himself is this path: whoever walks with him and passes through him enters into life, into eternal life. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to be simple and humble people, the grace to know how to weep, the grace to be gentle, the grace to work for justice and peace, and above all, the grace to allow ourselves to be forgiven by God so that we may become instruments of his mercy.

This is what the saints did, those who have gone before us to the heavenly homeland. They accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage, encouraging us to move forward. May their intercession help us walk in the path of Jesus and obtain eternal happiness for our departed brothers and sisters, for whom we offer this Mass.