[v. 8] All Saints Day — November 1, 2026 Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14 | 1 John 3:1–3 | Matthew 5:1–12
Finishing
the Race Together
1.
THE MARATHON — A Journey Together
In today's
Gospel, Jesus sees the crowds, goes up the mountain, and teaches them the
Beatitudes. On All Saints Day, another crowd can remind us of our journey
toward sainthood.
Today is the
New York City Marathon.
When the
marathon began in 1970, about a hundred runners participated. They completed
the entire race by running laps around Central Park. But in 1976, fifty (50) years
ago, the organizers expanded the course through all 5 boroughs: Staten
Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.
Today, more
than 60,000 runners are expected. Imagine fitting them onto the old
Central Park course. The race had to expand.
[PAUSE]
The marathon
also requires New York City to change its routine. Streets close, bridges are
restricted, and bus routes are disrupted. Other activities give way so the
runners can proceed.
And the
marathon is famous for its crowds. Thousands of spectators line the route,
cheering people they have never met. They encourage elite athletes and ordinary
runners struggling to finish, especially on the difficult miles.
Those three
features of the marathon tell us something about becoming saints: we must go beyond
familiar boundaries, make room for what matters, and help one another along the
way.
2.
MAKING ROOM FOR GOD — Poverty of Spirit
First, the
expansion beyond Central Park reminds us that holiness cannot be confined to
this church.
Coming to
Mass on Sunday is foundational to practicing our Catholic faith. But we also
practice that faith outside these walls: at work, at school, on the bus, in our
neighborhoods, and through what we say and what we choose not to say.
In our first
reading, Saint John describes a great multitude from every nation, race,
people, and tongue. The call to holiness isn't reserved for those whose names
are engraved in churches or whose statues stand on pedestals. God calls all of
us to become saints, wherever he sends us.
Second, think
about those road closures. To make the marathon possible, the city has to set
aside other priorities. Our spiritual lives require choices too.
Sometimes we
say no to something good in order to say yes to something better. We make time
on Sunday for worship, family, and rest. We put aside unnecessary work or
distractions, not because every other activity is wrong, but because our
relationship with God deserves room to grow.
That brings
us to the first Beatitude: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven."
What does it
mean to be poor in spirit? It means recognizing that our lives depend
ultimately on God, not simply on our possessions, achievements, or ability to
control what happens.
Perhaps
you've worked hard for an opportunity or some recognition. You hoped for it;
perhaps you even deserved it. But you didn't receive it. You may have good
reason to be disappointed, or even to question whether you were treated fairly.
Poverty of
spirit doesn't mean pretending that injustice is acceptable. And disappointment
doesn't necessarily mean that God wanted things to happen that way. It means
that even when we don't get our way, we need not lose our trust in God. Our lives are still in his hands.
[PAUSE]
3.
ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER — Looking Up
Now consider
the cheering crowds. The runners may receive messages from family and friends
on their phones or smartwatches: "Keep going! You can do it!" Those
messages matter. But nobody can run 26 miles staring at a screen.
You
have to look up. You have to notice the people around you.
[PAUSE]
Sometimes
encouragement comes from someone you've never met. And someone beside you may
need encouragement.
We don't
always know who is struggling. A classmate, teacher, coach, coworker, or
neighbor may be carrying a burden we cannot see. A kind word or time spent
listening can help that person keep going.
And
encouragement works in both directions. We need to offer it, but we also need
to receive it.
The
Archbishop assigned me here to serve as your spiritual father. But I've
discovered that I'm also your brother on the journey, and sometimes a son of
this parish, learning from the very people I've been sent to serve.
I've learned
from your faith, your struggles, and your perseverance. You've encouraged me, and I'm
grateful.
[PAUSE]
I'm still
learning what it means to follow Jesus, just as we all are.
We
want to finish the race. And we want to help one another finish the race.
4.
ENDURANCE — Reaching the Finish Line
Finally, a
marathon demands endurance. Not everyone running today is an elite athlete.
Some are running their first marathon. Some are tired before they even reach
the hardest miles. They aren't in perfect condition, but they've begun the race
anyway.
That's an
important lesson for our spiritual lives. We don't have to be perfect to begin,
or to begin again. We come to God because we need his grace, not because we've
already earned it.
Sometimes
our plans fail, our prayers seem unanswered, or we feel we're falling behind.
The Christian life isn't a sprint or a single perfect moment. It's a lifelong
journey of responding to grace.
Near the end
of his life, Saint Paul writes: "I have competed well; I have finished the
race; I have kept the faith."
He doesn't
say everything went according to plan. He says he kept the faith.
The saints
show us what that perseverance looks like. Saint Bernadette, whose relics we
welcomed here recently, endured poverty, illness, and misunderstanding. Her
life was far from easy, yet she continued to trust in God.
And today's
second reading gives us the reason for our hope. Saint John says,
"Beloved, we are God's children now." Not someday, when everything is
perfect. Now.
He also
promises that one day we shall see God as he is.
That's
our destination. That's our finish line.
[PAUSE]
We want to
finish the race. And we want to help one another finish the race.
May the
saints pray for us, may we encourage one another, and may God's grace bring us
to that finish line, where we shall see him face to face. Amen.
