All Saints’ Day

Lectio Divina: Scripture Reading + Meditation + Prayer + Contemplation

“The Saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.”

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon 2 for All Saints’ Day.

(Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Solemnity of All Saints, All Saints Day, Mathew 5:1-12a, 01 November 2026)

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven (Mathew 5:2-11)

MEDITATIO – “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”-For Epiphany of the Lord Parish, this Beatitude invites us to recognize our spiritual poverty honestly. We may experience declining participation, changing neighborhoods, fewer volunteers, and uncertainty about the future. We may also encounter material poverty, sickness, old age, and loneliness among our parishioners. Personal reflection: Where do I need to surrender my pride and allow God to work through my weakness? Parish reflection: Can we acknowledge our limitations honestly while trusting that God can renew our parish through humble service?

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land”- In parish life, older parishioners must not feel that their years of faithfulness have become irrelevant. Younger people must not feel that there is no room for their gifts. Those who return after a long absence must be received without judgment. Personal reflection: Do I use my words to heal relationships or to deepen divisions? Parish reflection: What atitudes must we change so that St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas become places of genuine welcome, mutual respect, and belonging?

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”- Our parish includes people mourning the death of loved ones, those struggling with illness, those living alone, those whose families are distant, and those who quietly carry burdens that others never see. Some may sit in our pews every Sunday while feeling forgotten throughout the week. Personal reflection: Whose sorrow have I failed to notice? Parish reflection: Who among our parishioners may be suffering in silence, and how can our community help them experience the comfort of Christ?

“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill”-A parish cannot proclaim the Gospel convincingly while remaining indifferent to poverty, neglect, exclusion, or injustice. We are called to recognize Christ in people who are struggling financially, in families under pressure, in the sick, and in those who feel they no longer have a place in the community. Personal reflection: Am I satisfied with being religious, or do I truly desire to live according to God’s justice? Parish reflection: What concrete action can we take to make our parish more attentive to the poor, the vulnerable, and those who feel excluded?

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy”- A parish is not simply a gathering of people who have everything in order. It is a community of sinners who have received mercy and are learning to extend that mercy to others. Personal reflection: Whom do I need to forgive, and from whom do I need to ask forgiveness?

Parish reflection: Can a person who has been away from the Church return to our community without feeling condemned or unwelcome?

“Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.”- Our parish ministries must therefore be rooted in prayer and service rather than recognition. Participation in the liturgy, parish councils, charitable activities, and other ministries becomes fruitiul when we seek God’s glory rather than our own. Personal reflection: Are my intentions in serving God and the Church sincere? Parish reflection: Do our decisions and ministries help people encounter Christ, or do they sometimes become occasions for personal preference and division?

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God”- A parish needs peacemakers: people who listen before judging, clarify misunderstandings, encourage cooperation, and refuse to allow small disagreements to become lasting divisions. Personal reflection: Where is God asking me to become an instrument of reconciliation?

Parish reflection: What can I do to strengthen unity between parishioners, families, generations, and the two parish campuses?

“Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”- A parish may face discouragement, resistance to change, limited resources, or misunderstanding. The Beatitude invites us not to abandon our mission simply because the work is difficult.

Personal reflection: Do I remain faithful to Christ when doing what is right becomes difficult?

Parish reflection: Are we willing to make sacrifices so that future generations can encounter Christ through a living, welcoming, and missionary parish?

ORATIO – Lord Jesus Christ, you went up the mountain and proclaimed the blessedness of those who live according to the heart of God. Teach us to understand the wisdom of Your Kingdom and to follow the path You have shown us.

Make us peacemakers in our families, in our parish councils, in our ministries, and in our neighborhoods. Unite St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas in one faith, one hope, and one mission. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – As you remain in His presence, consider these three questions: Whom does Jesus ask me to see? Perhaps someone whose suffering I have overlooked. What does Jesus ask me to surrender? Perhaps pride, resentment, fear, indifference, or the desire to control. Where does Jesus ask me to become His presence? Perhaps in a home, a hospital room, a parish ministry, or a conversation with someone who feels forgotten. Contemplation does not mean escaping the needs of the world. It means allowing Christ to transform our way of seeing the world. When we learn to look upon others with His eyes, we begin to recognize His presence in those whom society may overlook.

ACTIO — Puttng the Word into Practice – For Epiphany of the Lord Parish, the following commitments can help us translate the Gospel into daily life. Become a parish that notices the forgotten- Encourage parishioners and ministry groups to reach out to the sick, the homebound, the elderly, the bereaved, and those who live alone. A regular telephone call or personal visit can restore someone’s sense of belonging. Become a parish of welcome and reconciliation- Welcome newcomers and returning Catholics without judgment. Encourage patient listening, forgiveness, and cooperation between St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas. Make compassion practical- Identify one realistic way to assist people facing material hardship, illness, transportation difficulties, or isolation. Coordinate efforts through existing parish ministries and community resources. Renew our worship through sincere discipleship–Let prayer, reverence, and participation in the Eucharist form us into a more charitable community. What we celebrate at the altar must shape how we treat people outside the church. Build hope through small, faithful beginnings- Rather than becoming discouraged by declining participation or limited resources, invite one person into a ministry, encourage a young person, support a volunteer, or initiate one act of service. Renewal often begins with small acts of fidelity. My concrete commitment this week: Whom will I contact, visit, or accompany? What atitude must I change to become a better peacemaker? What one practical act of mercy can I offer in the name of Christ? Choose one action and carry it out this week. A small act performed with love can become the beginning of a deeper parish renewal.

FINAL RESOLUTION — Becoming a Beatitude-Shaped Parish- For Epiphany of the Lord Parish, this is both a spiritual consolation and a pastoral challenge. Our difficulties are real, and they require honest attention. Yet they do not have the final word. The Lord calls us to respond not with resignation, but with deeper faith, more generous charity, and renewed missionary commitment. The final resolution is this: I will help make Epiphany of the Lord Parish a community where the presence of Christ can be encountered, especially by those who suffer, those who are forgotten, and those who long to belong.

Concluding Prayer- Lord Jesus, make Epiphany of the Lord Parish a community of faith that comforts the sorrowful, welcomes the stranger, serves the poor, reconciles the divided, and bears witness to Your Gospel.

Fraternally,
Fr. John Peter Lazaar SAC, Pastor