Trump, Biden and Jesus (All Saints homily)

 The first reading is about what this feast day is about, 

and that is heaven. To be a saint is to be in heaven. 

To be in heaven – do you want to be in heaven someday? 

Well, to be in heaven, is to be a saint. 

So, unless you plan on going to hell, 

then you and I and all of us will be saints.

What does it mean to be a saint? 

Today’s readings give us lots of information. 

So one thing you could do is save these readings in particular,

And you could frame a daily plan around them:

“Today I’m going to try to keep my heart clean,” or

“My project for the week is to be merciful.”

That would be a great way to get to heaven.

I want to point out three specific details.

First: what the beatitudes of the Gospel are all about 

is not being satisfied by this world, 

but rather anchoring your hope in the next.

The worst thing this world can do to you and me isn’t losing a job 

or money or our health or an election or even our life.

No, the worst thing the world can do to us 

is make us happy and content and tell our conscience, “go to sleep!”

So Jesus tells us: be poor in spirit. Be mournful. Be meek.

If we hunger for heaven, we will be satisfied.

That will lead you to confession and help you know what to say.

And it will lead you to the Eucharist 

and know that Holy Communion is not a “what” but a “Who.” 

It’s not a ritual we do, but it is – however hard it is to realize – 

a taste of heaven.

Now notice the second detail:

notice they came out of a “time of great distress.”

Who doesn’t hate all the disruption caused by the virus?

And who isn’t sick of seeing violence in our city’s streets?

What about all the political yelling and turmoil?

We would all like things to be calm – to be, quote, “normal.”

The Book of Revelation is full of turmoil and conflict. 

It is, at times, frightening. But it was written for Christians, 

both in the beginning and through time, to realize:

You don’t have to be afraid of these things, 

because they will not keep you from being close to Jesus Christ.

It’s like the guy who wants to give up cigarettes or start working out, 

and whoops, there’s a problem at work, so he puts it off.

Then it’s Thanksgiving, and he says, “I’ll wait till the holidays are over.”

Then it’s January, and too cold. So it goes; there’s always an excuse.

This world is a wonderful place, but it is also a spiritual battlefield,

and we don’t get to coast through and have it all handed to us.

Lots of us are all worked up about the election.

I’m not saying the election isn’t important; it is. Be sure to vote!

But do you think the saints in heaven are losing sleep over it?

No! And that leads to the third detail: where is their gaze?

The saints stand “before the Lamb”: their gaze is fixed on Christ.

Nothing that happens on Election Day or any day thereafter 

will change this truth, that Jesus Christ is the King. He is the Lord.

He is the only savior the world will ever have.

You and I hope for the best, and work for the best, in this world,

but history goes as it goes. Nations rise and fall.

Eventually – in God’s own time – all this will fade away.

You and I are guaranteed nothing in this world, other than this – 

and this is all we need – that in this world we can become saints.

Like you, I’ll watch the election results, and not get enough sleep.

But before you do, come to St. Remy Church, 

because we’ll have adoration of the Lord 

all night Monday and through the day.

Like the saints, let’s keep our gaze on King Jesus.