All Saints of the Seraphic Order

Homily for the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order

The first reading for the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order comes to us from the book of Sirach. These lines were written as an introduction to a series of eulogies that appear in chapters 44 through 50 of this book of the Scriptures. These lines emphasize the wealth, the fidelity, the posterity and the wisdom of the ancestors of Israel. Each of these elements was considered a cause for honor in the Middle Eastern society in which Israel lay. While the first element, wealth, would not be considered part of the charism of the Franciscan order, the other three – namely, the fidelity, the posterity, and the wisdom – would be celebrated among the saints and blesseds who followed the rule of St. Francis.

The Psalm that we use for our response to this reading enumerates other criteria by which we can know the saints, for Franciscans strive to be sinless and pure of heart while, at the same time, they eschew vanity and the desire for material wealth.

The story from the Gospel of St. Mark about the rich, young man also fits the Franciscan way of life. Franciscans are marked for their willingness to live a life of Gospel simplicity through our vow to appropriate nothing for ourselves, leaving behind the power that comes with wealth.

Franciscan philosophy and theology emphasizes the love that God has for each of us. It was St. Bonaventure who taught us that even if we had not needed a Redeemer, God would have become one of us nonetheless, simply because of God’s love for us. All of the created universe is filled with signs of God’s love. St. Francis’ Canticle of the creatures sings of the four elements of nature that were taught in the Middle Ages: earth, air, fire, and water. While modern science has taught us that there are far more elements that go into the creation of our universe, St. Francis teaches us through his Canticle to love and care for our natural world.

Today we celebrate the many Franciscan men and women who have yearned to see God face to face and who now possess that for which they yearned. As we walk in the steps of the poor, crucified Christ, let us follow them to our eternal life in the glorious Kingdom of God.