Daily Gospel Reflection for November 1, 2021 - All Saints

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Melanie Rigney

Today's Gospel: Solemnity of All Saints - Matthew 5:1-12a

Insulted, persecuted, and denigrated because of Jesus?

Surely, I tell myself, there has to be an easier way to be blessed.

Notice how in the rest of the Beatitudes, Jesus doesn’t speak directly to “you” but to "they?" Being poor in spirit, a mourner, meek, a seeker of righteousness, merciful, clean of heart, and a peacemaker…each of us find some of those things easier than others. But even when they’re difficult, when we exhibit those behaviors, we’re definitely part of a larger endeavor. At least we can tell ourselves that, since Jesus speaks of those poor in spirit, meek, and the rest as “they.” “They” is abstract; it doesn’t necessarily require our participation.

That takes us back to Matthew 5:11, where Jesus speaks directly to “you” (and me). To be blessed, we must endure all kinds of verbal and societal and maybe even physical abuse simply because we’re Christians. It means we have to show others we are His followers. It means we have to be willing to accept a small percentage of the abuse He accepted to redeem us.

Insulted, persecuted, and denigrated because of Jesus?

Yes, there’s an easier way to get through life on earth. Go along to get along, stay silent, let evil run roughshod over the world writ large and our own conduct writ small. But we know from experience that that sort of caution leaves us uneasy, cynical, jaded, helpless—and feeling decidedly unblessed.

Being bold about bringing souls to the kingdom isn’t easy. Jesus knows that better than any of us. He also knows—and promises us—that it leads to eternal bliss. And the most reluctant of His followers knows in our souls that that bliss is worth more than any fleeting comfort or peace in our earthly existence.

Ponder:

How can you go bold for Jesus today?

Pray:

Lord, hold my hand as I respond with love to those who attempt to persecute You through me.

Click to Tweet
Being bold about bringing souls to the kingdom isn’t easy. #dailygospel

Copyright 2021 Melanie Rigney

Melanie Rigney is the author of several books about saints as well as a menopause journal for Catholic women. She lives in Arlington, VA.