The solemnity of All Saints is a glorious feast celebrating the call to holiness open to all the daughters and sons of God - those already wrapped in God’s loving embrace and those of us still on the road.

The apostle Paul frequently referred to his fellow Christians as “saints” or “holy ones.” The Greek word he used is hagios, meaning to “be holy or saintly.” The same word is used of God, the “All-Holy One.” St. Paul applied this title to all Christians, not just the ones who seemed to be the most pious or exemplary. Why? Paul emphasized that holiness fills the life of the believer who is fashioned in the divine image, redeemed by the blood of Christ, reborn in the saving waters of baptism, and sanctified by the indwelling Spirit of God.

The call to holiness reaches deep into the Scriptures. In Leviticus 19:2, God summons Moses to tell the people: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” This is a command that rings down through the entirety of the Bible.

The notion of humans imitating the holiness of God is something distinctive about our faith. Most ancient religions did not correlate the worship of their gods with the values that ought to guide their lives. They hoped that homage to their gods would protect them from harm and lead to prosperity, but they did not derive their code of conduct from the example of their gods.

In the Bible, however, the “holiness” of God referred to the awesome beauty and majesty of God, and God’s tender love and mercy toward God’s people. One of the earliest acclamations of this is found in Exodus 34:6, as Moses encounters God at Sinai: “The Lord, the Lord, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love and fidelity.”

God’s steadfast mercy, fidelity, and abiding love define what holiness means and set a pattern for the way we are to live our lives. Astonishingly, the God of Israel creates humans in the divine “image and likeness” and we have a God-given capacity for holiness.

God’s holiness is embodied in the person of Jesus. In his very being and in the manner of his own life, Jesus revealed God to us. Pope Francis repeatedly says. “Jesus is the human face of the Father’s mercy.”

God’s command to “be holy as I the Lord your God am holy” becomes for Christians Jesus’ call to his disciples, “Come, follow me.” In striving to live as Jesus lived, we find the path to holiness.

This is the spirit of today’s readings. The first reading from the Book of Revelation is typical of this dramatic New Testament work, the last book in the canon of Sacred Scripture. Standing before the throne of God and the Lamb, “a great multitude which no one can count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue,” cries out in exaltation, praising God and the risen Jesus.

The Responsorial Psalm also exults in God’s beauty and power: “The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.” And our response expresses the longing we are to experience as we, too, strive for a life of goodness, a life of holiness: “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face!”

The passage from the First Letter of St. John underscores the link between God’s love and the quality of our lives: “Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” John will affirm over and over that to be a child of God is to love as God loves.

In the gospel we hear Jesus’ beatitudes that begin the Sermon on the Mount, a summation of the values and commitments that lead to authentic holiness, and, in fact, reflect Jesus’ own manner of life: comfort for the poor, for those who mourn, and for the meek; blessing on those committed to mercy, to peacemaking, to justice even at the cost of persecution.

At this tense moment in our history, this Christian vision of life is balm for our souls. God calls all of us to be holy as God is holy.

Join in praying for our beloved dead on Monday, November 2, All Souls Day.

St. Joseph's Church Downtown is open with the usual schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, sacraments, and ministry. Because of increased coronavirus cases locally, social distancing, hand-sanitizing, and the use of a face mask are observed during church services, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.

In keeping with the Covid-19 protocols of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Holy Communion is to be received reverently in the hand at this time. Unless you are members of the same household, you are asked to keep social distancing of six feet between yourself and others. Please sanitize your hands before coming forward to receive the Body of Christ.

Virtual Classes are now being conducted on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30. Children who are in the First Communion class will meet once a month in the Mother of the Americas Center, along with their parent(s). If you have not registered your child(ren) and wish to do so, please call Beatrice Bailey at 210-227-0126, ext. 210.

We thank all who contributed diapers, baby wipes, and donations of money during Respect Life Month. These will go to St. PJ's Children's Home. It was heartwarming to see the strong support from our parishioners and friends. Special thanks to Lizette Eckman for organizing this effort.

Our annual food drive for collecting non-perishable foods for our Thanksgiving Baskets is underway and continues through November 18. Please drop off all items in the container near the Altar of St. Joseph in the front of the church. Thank you for your kindness and generous donations. Grand Lady Antoinette Franklin and Vice Grand Lady Grace Banks are coordinating this drive.

This year's Archdiocesan Assembly is next Saturday, November 7, from 9:00am-1:00pm. It will be a truly unique experience. Participants will be united as one on a virtual platform (television, Facebook, YouTube). Keynote speakers are Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI, and Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Boulette, along with a variety of speakers in English and in Spanish reflecting the call to discipleship that is at the heart of our life as Catholics. Registration is completely free. For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.archsa.org/ or call 210-734-1911

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Videos of Sunday Mass and other Masses from St. Joseph's are posted on YouTube at the St. Joseph Church Downtown Media page. The Strelchun Family and John Francis are doing a fantastic service for all who would like to participate in Mass in our beautiful church but cannot for health or other reasons.

Thank you for supporting St. Joseph through our parish website (https://stjsa.org/) or Give Central (https://www.givecentral.org/location/935).