“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and… began to teach them, saying: “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. 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.”
Jesus’ Beatitudes, or blessings, are bestowed upon common people. It’s usually the case that rulers heap curses upon we common people. In a world bound by rulers whose divisive politics, enslaving capitalism, and incessant killings, drown us in sorrows, Jesus inspires us with a Spirit of Communion, Love, and Healing that fill us with joy. This year, people who inspire us beyond this world’s sorrows to be inspired with joy include: José Gregorio Hernández (1864-1919) was known as “the doctor of the poor.” Jose was a physician, a scientist and a man of faith. He blessed the lives of Latin Americans with joy by providing medical care to people who could not afford it. His great kindness meant that at the onset in 1918 of the highly contagious Spanish flu in Venezuela, Hernández stayed with the patients who most needed him. Maria Troncatti (1883-1969) was a Salesian sister who blessed the lives of indigenous people and communities in Ecuador. She was a missionary nurse, as well as a teacher. She was also a peacemaker, risking her life to bring conflicting tribe members and governing officials together to work out disputes. Takashi Nagai (1908-1951) was a physician drafted into Japan’s Medical Core during WWII. Disgusted by war he got out of the military and returned home to Nagasaki to organize doctors for remote villages. Almost all of them, including his own family, were killed by the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Nagai survived and blessed people as a powerful voice for peace. He connected with peacemakers across the world to rebuild Japan and all nations to be peacemaking nations. Dr. Pannavati Bhikkhuni (1950–2026) was an African American Buddhist monastic and social activist. She was deeply committed to a contemplative life and equally committed to a life of social service. Thus, she blessed people by establishing Buddhist practice centers and by engaging in community-building with India’s Dalits, or “Untouchables.” She also cared for homeless youth who needed shelter. No matter the times and the rulers who try to curse us, we live among saints who bless our lives.
“Listen my heart as only Saints have listened… In the end those who were carried off early no longer need us: they are weaned from earth’s sorrows and joys… But we who do need such great mysteries, we for whom grief is so often the source of our spirit’s growth-: could we exist without them?” (Duino Elegies – Rainer Maria Rilke)
Prayer: All you holy men and women pray for us.
Question: Who are the saints who listen to me in my sorrows and joys and bless my life?
November 01, 2026 Gospel Matthew 5:1-12 All Saints
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