“A Great Multitude Which No One Could Count”
(Revelation 7:9)
November 1, 2009, Feast of All Saints
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12
To the churched and unchurched[1]
gathered in a church not built by human hands[2]
First reading from Revelation
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed: “Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you, Lord.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up a hill, where He sat down. His disciples gathered around Him, and He began to teach them:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven
.Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Halloween & All Saints
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, celebrated their new year on November 1. For them that date marked the end of summer and harvest, and the beginning of cold and darkness. It also was the day when the souls of the dead appeared in the form of ghosts, witches, goblins, and elves, whom the Celts invoked to inflict harm upon their enemies. Perhaps it was in competition with this superstitious belief of the Celts that Pope Gregory III (731-741) on November 1 consecrated a chapel to all the saints in the original Basilica of St. Peter. Then Pope Gregory IV (827-844) established November 1 as the Feast of All Saints for the entire Church. So the night of October 31 came to be called Hallows’ Eve (Halloween). That also explains why Halloween, the eve of All Saints, came to be haunted with ghosts, witches, goblins and elves.
Today, Nov. 1, 2009, we switch back from man-made time to God’s time. In many places, an honest-to-God frost has dealt a deadly blow to geraniums hanging on for dear life. The crispness in the air these days invites us to take energetic walks into the glorious but fast-fading fall, and it puts us in a cozy mood to watch a super-momentous game, when the Packers will face a beloved and legendary quarterback. The first dustings of snow evoke the emotions that go with the great feasts that lie ahead; soon it will be over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house we go to give thanks, and after that, we'll all be ”dreaming of a white Christmas.”
Today, Nov. 1, 2009, we switch back from man-made time to God’s time. In many places, an honest-to-God frost has dealt a deadly blow to geraniums hanging on for dear life. The crispness in the air these days invites us to take energetic walks into the glorious but fast-fading fall, and it puts us in a cozy mood to watch a super-momentous game, when the Packers will face a beloved and legendary quarterback. The first dustings of snow evoke the emotions that go with the great feasts that lie ahead; soon it will be over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house we go to give thanks, and after that, we'll all be ”dreaming of a white Christmas.”
A harvest feast
All Saints is a harvest feast. In the fall harvest we have gathered into bins all the apples, potatoes and pumpkins. In today’s feast we now gather in all the saints. Throughout the liturgical year we celebrate a list of Catholic saints like St. Agnes, St. Lucy, St. Benedict, St. Bernard, St. Francis, St. Clare, St Theresa, etc. Today we celebrate a catholic list of saints, that is to say, a universal list that includes "all the holy men and women of every time and place” (from the prayer of the day).
Such a feast in honor of all the saints was inevitable, for we’ve always suspected that the church’s official list of saints hadn't canonized all the saints -- hadn't even canonized the best of the saints. We’ve always suspected that the church’s official list is not God's list – that God’s list is, indeed, much more inclusive than ours.
When we want to make sure that we’re honoring all the fallen soldiers of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), we erect a tomb to the Unknown Soldier. In Paul's day, when the Greeks wanted to make sure they were honoring all the jealous gods of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), they erected an altar to an Unknown God. (Acts 17:22) Likewise, when we want to make sure we’re honoring all the holy men and women of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), we erect a feast honoring all the saints, especially all the unknown and unsung saints, who are, indeed, a multitude.
Such a feast in honor of all the saints was inevitable, for we’ve always suspected that the church’s official list of saints hadn't canonized all the saints -- hadn't even canonized the best of the saints. We’ve always suspected that the church’s official list is not God's list – that God’s list is, indeed, much more inclusive than ours.
When we want to make sure that we’re honoring all the fallen soldiers of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), we erect a tomb to the Unknown Soldier. In Paul's day, when the Greeks wanted to make sure they were honoring all the jealous gods of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), they erected an altar to an Unknown God. (Acts 17:22) Likewise, when we want to make sure we’re honoring all the holy men and women of every time and place (not neglecting a single one of them), we erect a feast honoring all the saints, especially all the unknown and unsung saints, who are, indeed, a multitude.
A great multitude
The first reading today from Revelation speaks of “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue….” (Rev. 7:9) Before Vatican II, the Mass for All Saints fleshed out that great multitude with a lengthier quote from Revelation: it spoke of 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah; 12,000 the tribe of Ruben; 12,000 from the tribe of Gad; 12,000 from the tribe of Asher; 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali.... Etc." (Rev 7:1-8) I miss that old reading with its impressive litany of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, adding up to a grand total of 144,000 people who had God’s seal upon their foreheads.
That great multitude which no one could count is fleshed out also in the Gospel reading for All Saints with its litany of nine beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are they who mourn…. Blessed are the meek…Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…. Blessed are the merciful…. Etc.”(Mt 5:1-12) Add up all those blessed ones, and that gives us 144,000 plus people who have God’s seal upon their foreheads.
That great multitude which no one could count is fleshed out also in the Gospel reading for All Saints with its litany of nine beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are they who mourn…. Blessed are the meek…Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…. Blessed are the merciful…. Etc.”(Mt 5:1-12) Add up all those blessed ones, and that gives us 144,000 plus people who have God’s seal upon their foreheads.
An unseemly saint
That great multitude, however, “which no one could count” is not the neat, orderly and nice-looking tribe depicted in the graphic above. That great multitude is a motley crowd of people; it includes some very unseemly saints.
November 25, 1973 was an ordinary Sunday, and the 10 AM Mass at St. Benedict the Moor Church in central-city Milwaukee was running along in an ordinary sort of way, but not for long. Fr. Peter Quareschi, a priest from Brazil, was the celebrant. Up in the front pew sat Andrew Torres. It was, indeed, a surprise for many to see State-Street-notorious Andy Torres in church, all dressed up and sober! As Fr. Peter was making the customary introductions of newcomers to the Sunday assembly before the homily, Andy motioned to him, saying, "Tell the people that I'm the biggest wino on State Street." Father Peter did just that. "Tell them also that this is the first time in 17 years that I've been in church." That, too, Fr. Peter announced, to the great applause of the entire assembly. At Communion, Andy received the Host, held it aloft, looked Fr. Peter straight in the eye, and then announced, "This is my first holy Communion!" The meaningful words of an Anglican clergyman come to mind: “The only requirement to take Communion is that you be hungry!”
November 25, 1973 was an ordinary Sunday, and the 10 AM Mass at St. Benedict the Moor Church in central-city Milwaukee was running along in an ordinary sort of way, but not for long. Fr. Peter Quareschi, a priest from Brazil, was the celebrant. Up in the front pew sat Andrew Torres. It was, indeed, a surprise for many to see State-Street-notorious Andy Torres in church, all dressed up and sober! As Fr. Peter was making the customary introductions of newcomers to the Sunday assembly before the homily, Andy motioned to him, saying, "Tell the people that I'm the biggest wino on State Street." Father Peter did just that. "Tell them also that this is the first time in 17 years that I've been in church." That, too, Fr. Peter announced, to the great applause of the entire assembly. At Communion, Andy received the Host, held it aloft, looked Fr. Peter straight in the eye, and then announced, "This is my first holy Communion!" The meaningful words of an Anglican clergyman come to mind: “The only requirement to take Communion is that you be hungry!”
After Mass one big question lingered on in Andy’s mind. He cornered me and asked, "When I die, am I going to hell?" I answered: “Andy, I don’t believe that all your suffering is going to be topped off with an eternal hell besides. Andy, I don’t believe that all your suffering is for naught.” That very night Andy died in jail across the street! The newspaper carried the cold facts: "Andrew Torres -- 32 years of age - an endless record of 124 drunk-arrests - address unknown."
Indignant rightists
A week later, the whole story got into the Milwaukee Journal, and some religious rightists expressed deep indignation at the thought of consoling Andy with the “so-called redemptive value of his suffering.” Nobody’s suffering, except the suffering of Jesus, they insisted, is redemptive. His suffering and His alone, they insisted, redeems. Anything else, they insisted, is heresy. I recalled immediately the `heretical’ words of St. Paul who wrote, "I make up in my own body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ." (Col 1:24)
I also recalled the words of the drunkard in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. More trusting in God’s mercy than Andy Torres, he says, "Then we (drunkards) are going to line up, and Christ, our Judge, will say to us, `Come, enter into the kingdom.' And some standing near shall say to the Master, `How come you receive such people -- how come you receive such people?' And the Judge will say, `I receive them -- I receive them, because not one of them considers himself worthy to be received!`”
I also recalled the words of the drunkard in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. More trusting in God’s mercy than Andy Torres, he says, "Then we (drunkards) are going to line up, and Christ, our Judge, will say to us, `Come, enter into the kingdom.' And some standing near shall say to the Master, `How come you receive such people -- how come you receive such people?' And the Judge will say, `I receive them -- I receive them, because not one of them considers himself worthy to be received!`”
And so in that neat, orderly and nice-looking tribe depicted in the graphic above stands also messy Andy Torres who thoroughly unseats our idea of `saint,’ and who will never be officially canonized.
Conclusion
Personal saints of our own
That great multitude which no one can count is a motley crowd. It includes clean-cut saints like Mother Teresa and Padre Pio. It also includes messy saints like Andy Torres. It also and especially includes personal saints of our own – people we dearly loved but who will never be enrolled in the church’s official list of saints but who, we know without any doubt, belong there. On that list, I know for sure, belongs Francesca Luzi, an Italian immigrant Mama, destined to weep for twenty long years in a foreign land. We all have such personal saints of our own, to whom (not for whom) we fervently pray on the Feast of All Saints.
[1] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church has left!
[2] Acts of the Apostles 17:24
[1] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church has left!
[2] Acts of the Apostles 17:24
