Solemnity of All Saints 诸圣节
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. This feast originated in the Church’s common commemoration of the martyrs and later expanded to include all the saints in heaven. We invite you to read more in Fr. Joseph's latest bilingual Scripture reflection, included below in Chinese and then in English:
Scripture Reflection in Chinese
诸圣节
今天，教会庆祝诸圣节，纪念所有已经进入天上光荣、与天主圆满共融的圣人圣女。这个节日源于教会对殉道者的共同纪念，后来扩展为对天上所有圣人的庆祝，并在西方教会传统中定于十一月一日。诸圣节表达了一个信仰事实：基督的救恩已经在人类历史中结出了真实的果实，基督复活所开启的新生命，已经在无数人的身上达到圆满。教会敬礼圣人，是赞颂天主的恩宠怎样在他们身上工作。圣人有不同的性格、身世、才干和使命，却共同见证了同一个信仰：一个有限、软弱、需要被救赎的人，能够因着天主的恩宠，真实地学习爱，并最终与天主结合。今天的三篇读经给我们展现了一条完整的道路：我们因着天父的爱，已经成为天父的儿女；我们在世上学习按照真福八端所指引的方式生活；我们所盼望的终点，是面对面看见天主，永远分享天主的永恒福乐。
今天的第一篇读经选自《默示录》（默7:2-4,9-14）。若望看见一大群人，没有人能够数清，他们来自各邦国、各支派、各民族、各言语，站在天主的宝座和羔羊面前。这幅景象让我们看见，天主从万民中召集自己的子民，使不同背景的人共同分享永生。读经先提到十四万四千人，这个数目在《默示录》的象征语言中，表达天主子民的完整与圆满；随后出现的无数群众，更显示天主的救恩面向万民。每一个人都领受了天主成圣的召叫。无论人的出身、身份和处境如何，都可以在天主的恩宠中回应天主的召叫。
这些人身穿白衣，手持棕榈枝。白衣象征人的灵魂因基督的救恩而获得洁净，分享复活的新生命；棕榈枝象征胜利，表明他们经过考验，仍然忠于天主。若望看见天主宝座周围有二十四位长老，象征旧约与新约全体天主子民的圆满。其中一位向若望解释，这些身穿白衣的人，曾经历大灾难，并因耶稣基督的救恩而获得灵魂的洁净。这里的衣裳洁白，表达的是灵魂的洁净与生命的圣化。羔羊指向为人类受难、死亡并复活的耶稣基督。耶稣基督在十字架上，把自己完全交付给天父，以爱人到底的爱情救赎人类。羔羊的血表达耶稣基督为救赎人类而倾流的生命，使罪人能够获得宽恕，与天主和好。因此，圣洁首先来自天主的恩宠。人接受基督的救恩，藉着信德、悔改与爱德回应天主，灵魂得到洁净，生命便获得更新。
这些圣人“由大灾难中来”，说明他们曾经经历现实生活中的考验。他们也承受过痛苦、失落、诱惑和软弱，也需要在艰难中学习信赖天主。圣人的忠信表现在具体的选择中：跌倒以后愿意悔改，受苦之中继续行善，面对仇恨仍然坚持爱。苦难本身不会自动使人成圣；当人在苦难中依靠天主，在恩宠中坚持真理、实行爱德，灵魂便能得到净化，信德也得到锻炼。圣人的白衣见证了天主的慈悲，也见证了人对恩宠的真实回应。
第二篇读经说明成圣的根基（若一3:1-3）。圣若望说：“请看父赐给了我们何等的爱情，使我们能称为天主的儿女，而且也真是如此。”天父的爱使我们获得新的身份。藉着耶稣基督，我们被接纳进入天主的家庭，成为天父的儿女。这份身份包含真实的生命关系：天父赐给我们恩宠，使我们能够认识天主、爱天主，并按照天主的旨意生活。成圣的努力扎根于天父已经赐给我们的爱。我们越相信自己是蒙爱的儿女，就越能够信赖天父，也越愿意离开伤害自己、伤害别人、破坏人与天主关系的罪。
圣若望接着说：“主显现时，我们必要相似他，因为我们要看见他实在是怎样的。”这句话所说的，是我们将来面对面看见天主，在与天主的结合中获得圆满。如今，我们凭信德认识天主，仍受到知识、经验和内心软弱的限制；我们愿意爱天主，却常受到自私与恐惧的牵制。到了天上的圆满中，天主使我们的灵魂完全洁净，使我们能够以完整的爱回应天主。我们因恩宠而分享天主的圣洁与爱情，同时仍然保有受造者的身份。圣人的福乐，就在于完全属于天主，毫无阻隔地认识天主、爱天主，在天主的爱中享受永远的安息。因此，圣若望说，凡怀着这希望的人，必使自己圣洁。对永生的盼望，促使我们认真对待今天的生活。
福音中的真福八端，说明天父的儿女应当怎样生活（玛5:1-12a）。耶稣基督亲自活出了这些教导：谦卑、温良、富于怜悯、心地纯洁，缔造和平，并为了忠于天父而承受迫害。实践真福八端，就是使我们的思想、意愿和行动与耶稣基督相符合。“神贫的人是有福的，因为天国是他们的。”神贫使我们承认自己需要天主，不把财富、地位和能力当作生命最后的依靠。“哀恸的人是有福的，因为他们要接受安慰。”天主看见人的眼泪，也亲近那些为罪恶、不义和失落而悲痛的人。“温良的人是有福的，因为他们要承受土地。”温良使我们约束愤怒与报复，以尊重人的方式坚持真理。“慕义如饥似渴的人是有福的，因为他们要得到饱饫。”这要求我们渴望天主的旨意实现，并在家庭、工作和社会生活中实行公义。
“怜悯人的人是有福的，因为他们要受到怜悯。”我们从天主领受慈悲，也应当怜悯别人，在别人需要帮助时伸出援手，在别人愿意悔改时给予重新开始的机会。“心地纯洁的人是有福的，因为他们要看见天主。”这要求我们净化内心的动机，使言语、行为与信仰彼此一致，真诚地寻求天主。“缔造和平的人是有福的，因为他们要称为天主的子女。”天主的儿女应当主动修复关系，停止传播仇恨，在真理与公义中促成和好。“为义而受迫害的人是有福的，因为天国是他们的。”忠于天主有时需要付出代价，即使遭受误解、排斥和损失，天主仍然认识人的忠信，并赐给人永生。耶稣基督更明确地说：“你们欢喜踊跃吧！因为你们在天上的赏报是丰厚的。”天主的许诺使我们怀有希望，也支持我们在艰难中继续选择良善。
答唱咏所说的“手洁心净”，帮助我们理解这些教导怎样指引日常生活（咏24:1bc-2,3-4ab,5-6）。“手洁”关乎我们实际做了什么，有没有欺骗、伤害别人、占取不义的利益；“心净”关乎我们内心追求什么，有没有让嫉妒、贪婪和怨恨支配自己。寻求天主的人，需要让内心的信仰成为具体的行动。我们可以先选择两件事认真去做，例如，在利益面前保持诚实，在关系破裂时主动寻求和好。持守这些具体的选择，能够帮助我们省察自己，也使爱德有真实的行动。天主的恩宠在这些平凡的生活中工作，使我们的生命结出圣洁的果实。
庆祝诸圣节，让我们仰望天上已经成圣的圣人圣女。这些圣人当中，也许有我们的亲人、祖先，有许多默默行善的无名英雄，甚至有我们的朋友，或我们曾经认识的人。他们如今与天主同在，享受永恒的福乐。他们在世时忠于天主、爱人行善的见证，鼓励我们善度今生，帮助我们追求灵魂的圣洁，实践宽恕与和好。那位已经使无数圣人分享天上光荣的天主，正在我们的生命中工作。但愿我们永远信赖天主，回应天主，让天主的生命在我们身上结出果实，直到有一天，我们也与那数不清的圣人圣女一起，站在天主面前，永远赞美天主，享受无穷的福乐。
Scripture Reflection in English
Solemnity of All Saints
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, honoring all the holy men and women who have entered heavenly glory and are in full communion with God. This feast originated in the Church’s common commemoration of the martyrs and later expanded to include all the saints in heaven. In the Western Church, November 1 became the date for this celebration. All Saints expresses a truth of faith: Christ’s salvation has borne real fruit in human history, and the new life opened to us through Christ’s Resurrection has reached its fullness in countless people. In honoring the saints, the Church praises the work of God’s grace in their lives. The saints differ in personality, background, abilities, and vocation, yet they bear witness to the same faith: a person who is limited, weak, and in need of redemption can, through God’s grace, truly learn to love and ultimately be united with God. Today’s three readings reveal a complete path: through the heavenly Father’s love, we have become the heavenly Father’s children; during our earthly lives, we learn to live according to the Beatitudes; and the fulfillment we hope for is to see God face to face and share forever in God’s eternal happiness.
Today’s first reading comes from the Book of Revelation (Rev 7:2-4, 9-14). John sees a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue, standing before God’s throne and before the Lamb. This vision shows us that God gathers a people from every nation, enabling people of different backgrounds to share eternal life together. The reading first mentions one hundred and forty-four thousand people. In the symbolic language of Revelation, this number expresses the completeness and fullness of God’s people. The countless multitude that follows further reveals that God’s salvation extends to all nations. Every person has received God’s call to holiness. Whatever a person’s background, status, or circumstances, everyone can respond to God’s call through God’s grace.
These people wear white robes and hold palm branches in their hands. The white robes symbolize souls cleansed through Christ’s salvation and sharing in the new life of the Resurrection. The palm branches symbolize victory, showing that these people have remained faithful to God through trials. The elder explains: “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” The whiteness of the robes expresses the cleansing of the soul and the sanctification of life. The Lamb is Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again for humanity. On the Cross, Jesus Christ entrusted himself completely to the heavenly Father and redeemed humanity through a love that endured to the end. The Blood of the Lamb expresses the life Jesus Christ poured out for our redemption, enabling sinners to receive forgiveness and be reconciled with God. Holiness therefore begins with God’s grace. When people accept Christ’s salvation and respond to God through faith, repentance, and charity, their souls are cleansed and their lives are renewed.
These saints “have survived the time of great distress,” showing that they experienced the trials of earthly life. They too endured suffering, loss, temptation, and weakness. They too needed to learn to trust God in difficult circumstances. Their faithfulness took shape in concrete choices: repenting after a fall, continuing to do good amid suffering, and persevering in love when confronted with hatred. Suffering does not automatically make a person holy. When people rely on God in their suffering, uphold the truth through grace, and practice charity, their souls can be purified and their faith strengthened. The saints’ white robes bear witness both to God’s mercy and to their sincere response to grace.
The second reading explains the foundation of holiness (1 Jn 3:1-3). Saint John writes: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” The heavenly Father’s love gives us a new identity. Through Jesus Christ, we are welcomed into God’s family and become children of the heavenly Father. This identity involves a real relationship of life: the heavenly Father gives us grace so that we can know God, love God, and live according to God’s will. Our efforts to become holy are rooted in the love the heavenly Father has already given us. The more firmly we believe that we are beloved children, the more readily we can trust the heavenly Father and turn away from sins that harm ourselves, hurt others, and damage our relationship with God.
Saint John continues: “We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” These words describe our future encounter with God face to face, when we will find fulfillment in union with God. Now we know God through faith, while remaining limited by our knowledge, experience, and inner weakness. We desire to love God, yet selfishness and fear often hinder us. In the fullness of heaven, God will cleanse our souls completely, enabling us to respond to God with wholehearted love. Through grace, we share in God’s holiness and love while remaining the creatures God has made. The happiness of the saints consists in belonging completely to God, knowing and loving God without obstruction, and enjoying everlasting rest in God’s love. Saint John therefore writes: “Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.” Our hope for eternal life urges us to take our lives today seriously.
The Beatitudes in the Gospel explain how the heavenly Father’s children should live (Mt 5:1-12a). Jesus Christ personally embodied these teachings through humility, meekness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and the suffering endured in faithfulness to the heavenly Father. To practice the Beatitudes is to conform our thoughts, intentions, and actions to Jesus Christ. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Poverty of spirit leads us to acknowledge our need for God and to avoid making wealth, status, or ability our ultimate security. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” God sees human tears and draws near to those who grieve over sin, injustice, and loss. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Meekness enables us to restrain anger and revenge and to uphold the truth with respect for others. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” This calls us to desire the fulfillment of God’s will and to practice justice in our families, workplaces, and society.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Having received mercy from God, we should show mercy to others, offering help when people are in need and an opportunity to begin again when they are willing to repent. “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” This calls us to purify our intentions, bring our words and actions into harmony with our faith, and sincerely seek God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” God’s children should take the initiative in repairing relationships, stop spreading hatred, and promote reconciliation in truth and justice. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Faithfulness to God sometimes comes at a cost. Even when people experience misunderstanding, rejection, and loss, God recognizes their faithfulness and gives them eternal life. Jesus Christ also says clearly: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” God’s promise gives us hope and sustains us in continuing to choose goodness amid difficulties.
The responsorial psalm speaks of the person “whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,” helping us understand how these teachings guide our daily lives (Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6). Sinless hands concern what we actually do: whether we deceive, harm others, or take dishonest gains. A clean heart concerns what we seek within: whether we allow jealousy, greed, and resentment to govern us. Those who seek God need to express their inward faith through concrete actions. We can begin by choosing two things to practice seriously—for example, remaining honest when personal interests are at stake and taking the initiative to seek reconciliation when a relationship has broken down. Persevering in these concrete choices helps us examine ourselves and give charity practical expression. God’s grace works within these ordinary circumstances, enabling our lives to bear the fruit of holiness.
Celebrating All Saints turns our eyes toward the holy men and women already in heaven. Among these saints may be our relatives and ancestors, many unknown heroes who quietly did good, and even our friends or people we once knew. They are now with God, enjoying eternal happiness. Their earthly witness of faithfulness to God, love for others, and good works encourages us to live well in this world, pursue holiness of soul, and practice forgiveness and reconciliation. God, who has already enabled countless saints to share in heavenly glory, is at work in our lives. May we always trust God, respond to God, and allow God’s life to bear fruit in us, until one day we too stand before God with that countless multitude of holy men and women, praising God forever and enjoying endless happiness.
Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church.
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