The Solemnity of all Saints responds to the question of the person in the crowd in Luke 13:23, “Lord, are they few who are saved?”. Whereas the immediate response of Jesus in that instant seems to indicate that a few will be saved, nevertheless, verse 29 indicates something to the contrary. “They will arrive from the East, and the West, and the North, and the South, and they will recline at table in the Kingdom of God”. This indicates that multitudes will be admitted as Saints in the kingdom of God.
The Solemnity of all Saints is an indication that indeed, multitudes will be saved. It is an emphatic statement indicating that, as St. Paul says, “no one can separate us from the love of God” (Rom 8, 39). The second reading, from 1 John, points to this as well. “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we become children of God”.
The first reading affirms this point well as it speaks of 144 000 people who have the seal of God on their foreheads. These are from every tribe of the children of Israel. John also speaks of a crowd, without number, from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages who are before the Lamb and clothed in white robes. The code of having been saved is that they have come out of the tribulation, washed their robes and these (robes) have become white by the blood of the Lamb. It’s all coded in apocalyptic terms, imagine a robe immersed in blood that becomes white. Also apocalyptic, is that figure of 144 000 which in fact means much more than this number. It indicates a multiplication of the 12 tribes of Israel (x12) and multiplied unto the thousand to express that even within Israel, a multitude will be saved.
The issue of the great tribulation is important because it introduces the theme of discipleship and its challenges found in the gospel reading. Jesus is the Master and Teacher who instructs his disciples and indicates to them a secure path to holiness.
The apostle Matthew prepares for the Sermon with a lot of detail as he focuses on Jesus. Jesus sees the crowds, ascends the mountain, sits, opens his mouth and speaks. In other words, seeing, he takes notice of the persons around him. Ascending the mountain reminds us of Moses, the greatest prophet in Judaism, who went up the mountain to receive the ten commandments from God. Until then, the ten commandments were the code to follow when one intended to attain righteousness or holiness. Unlike Moses though, Jesus himself gives the way to salvation. That he sits down reveals his identity as a Master or Teacher (a Rabbi) as he instructs his disciples.
The disciples are active as well as they follow him up the mountain and even come closer. Discipleship means following the Master. The mountain will also be a moment of revelation later in the gospel when Jesus gives the missionary mandate to his disciples (Mt 28:16-20).
From Jesus’ teaching, we receive what one may call the magna carta of the Christian life. A faithful disciple of Christ is blessed if s/he be poor in spirit, i.e. accept the need for God in his/her life. Furthermore, we see the summons to be meek, the hope for those who mourn, to hunger and thirst for justice, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be a peacemaker and to endure persecution for the sake of Christ.
The conclusion of the beatitudes, even after mentioning matters of persecution, indicates that the disciple is to be glad and exult, for his/her reward will be great in heaven. Even more important may be Jesus’ words at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wiseman, who built his house upon the rock” (Mt. 7, 24).