All Saints Year A 1st November 2026.
Lectionary Readings: Revelation 7 v9-17; Psalm 34 v1-10, 22; 1 John 3 v1-3; Matthew 5 v1-12.
Children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of God.
The psalmist exclaims: “Discover for yourself the the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection and you will be glad. Honour the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honours the Lord will ever be in need.” (Psalm 34 v 8-9).
John encourages us to marvel at God’s love for us. “Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are.” (1 John 3 v1).
In today’s gospel reading Jesus is teaching his disciples (and us via Matthew) about who will find a place in God’s kingdom.
He talks about those who depend only on God, those who grieve, the humble, those who obey God’s commands, the merciful, those with pure hearts, the peace makers and victims of injustice.
All these people will be enfolded in God’s loving arms, adopted into his family and granted citizenship of the kingdom of heaven.
The author of the book of Revelation recounts a vision he had of heaven; “I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation and language and they stood before the throne.” (Revelation 7 v 9).
These are the saints that Jesus was talking about.
Hymn writer, Rosemary Wakelin, speaks of God’s family and the hallmark of its members.
(Singing the Faith 687)
One human family God has made and all for each to care.
One world, to be home of all, with all its wealth to share.
One Christ, to manifest on earth love’s ultimate design.
One Church to know the mystery of broken bread and wine.
One race, one world – yet torn apart, we spurn the way of love.
But still ahead, the Christ leads on and calls his Church to move
From love of power to power of love, and to give the world to all –
to trust the love that conquered death outside a city wall.
Claim him who claims us for his own, to share his pain and grief,
to bear the scars that stamp us his, the hallmark of belief.
As partners of the living Christ who risk the path he trod,
with wondering love we find we share the timeless joy of God.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.