We observe two important commemorations this weekend. In the liturgical calendar, November 1 is All Saints Day. November 2 is All Souls Day. We thank God for the Saints, and for those who have passed into eternal rest.

 The lives and works of the Saints and our loved ones who have gone before us—their courage, faith, and sense of vocation, inspire us and evoke gratitude in us. Each of us, whether or not we readily consider ourselves “saints,” has a place in God’s design. More importantly, we each have a vocation to fulfil.

 One aspect of Christian life is discerning our purpose, both personally and communally. The calling may be to church ministry or a secular vocation. It may involve bold acts of justice and reconciliation, or a quiet, prayerful life of giving.  The deep meaning of life emerges when we encounter God’s call to be the saints God wants us to be.

 So, who does God call and empower? We often recall charismatic and remarkably gifted individuals through whom God has worked dramatically.  But God also calls the unlikely and the unnoticed.

The best example I can think of is Paul. In his letter to the Galatians Paul recounts how Christ called him—an unlikely candidate—to become a saint: 

“You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it…  I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal God’s Son to me, so that I might proclaim Christ among the Gentiles.”

Paul, a persecutor of the church becomes a unique Apostle to the gentile world.  God calls the unlikely to fulfil God’s purposes. This is something we often overlook.

 Throughout the Bible, the faithful saints are often those who were oppressed, meek and hungry. Though they were ignored by the society, they are given a rightful place in the kingdom of God. That is the message of today’s gospel reading.

 Jesus tells his disciples who the true heirs of the kingdom of God are. They are the blessed—the poor, the hungry, the mournful, and the rejected. The unlikely people, without substantial financial or political power, without social status, often facing the hostility of political militarisation. Yet they are called blessed.  

 In a world where blessings are measured by money, wealth, and power, Jesus redefines what it means to be blessed in the Beatitudes. The names of those who fit this description may never be known in the world, but they are known to God.

 In the light of the Beatitudes, we must remember that most saints were not powerful or exceptional people by worldly standards. They were the poor, the weak, and the hungry who faithfully responded to God’s call.

God accomplishes great things through the faithful service and willing hearts and lives of the “quiet Saints” – ordinary people whose love and goodness make a real difference in the world. God empowers them to divine mission.

We are called to see ourselves as saints—those whom God calls to fulfil divine purposes in the world. Being a saint has less to do with our qualifications and more to do with God’s grace. If you feel unworthy or lacking ability, remember it is not about us. It is God who empowers. God calls the unlikely people and makes them saints. You are not an exception. If you think of yourself as an unlikely person to be a saint, know that God has already called you.

And what does God call us to do? Jesus proclaimed the universal golden rule,
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

All that we must do is offer ourselves to God, who will provide what is needed to make this world a better place. God does a great deal through the faithful service and willing hearts and lives of ‘quiet saints’ who are the unlikely, ordinary people like you and me. Our love and kindness make a real difference.

A beatitude is a blessing. Jesus offers words of blessing to those facing pain and hardship. The blessing is not a result of good behavior, a job well done, a merit badge, or a task completed on time. This blessing is a gift from God.

This blessing comes from God as prevenient grace, given freely and without expectation of reward, or repayment. That is how God makes saints out of the unlikely people. Those most forgotten by the world are blessed and made saints.

In summary, God makes saints out of the unlikely, unqualified, unworthy, sinful, and rejected people. If you see yourself as one of the unlikely, know that God still calls you. God makes the unlikely people saints.