Biblical Readings (Heb 11:33 – 12:2. ; Mt 10:32 – 33, 37 – 38, 19:27 – 30)
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will also disown before my Father in heaven…. 37 Anyone who loves their father or mother than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me…19:27 Then Peter answered Him. We have left everything to follow you! What will there be for us? 28 Jesus said to them. Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his throne the glorious, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first!”
This week we are away from the most characteristic period of our Faith, the period of Resurrection. But we cannot forget that, always we are believers in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Through our Lord we acquire the Holy Spirit, and this period of Christian struggles is ruled by the Holy Spirit, from the Father. This particular Lord’s Sunday, after the pentecoste day is always known as the Sunday of all Saints. And both readings are fit for the day.
The gospel reading defines who are the real disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. All the real disciples of Christ are Saints, not only “born again”! but recreated persons according to the image of Christ. Though with persecution and struggles of torments, through the power of the Holy Spirit and constant faith, we can win and participate in the Kingdom of our God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We have put aside the book of Acts and the book of Evangelist John. Now we read lessons from Epistles and from Evangelist Mathew. All priests, and other co-workers in the faculty of God’s kingdom, are invited always to consider and reconsider their call, as a serious call from the Lord, Word and Son of God the Father of all reality. In the Orthodox Church year, whenever this day of All Saints comes again, we should attempt to review our practiced collaboration with Christ Jesus, in His mission of establishing God’s kingdom on earth, or in Uganda, and especially in your own parish where you are allocated, as co-workers! We are not supposed to forget our spiritual responsibility of realizing God’s kingdom, in our midst!
Remember that, all those who struggle on earth for the God’s kingdom have the assistance of holy ones in heaven, who pray to God on their behalf, and they rejoice greatly for the victories and achievements in the struggle.