Gospel in Art: Solemnity of All Saints

Interior of the Church of All Saints, Minsk, Belarus, Completed in 2008, consecrated in 2010 © Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 November 2024
Matthew 5:1-12a

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

'How happy are the poor in spirit;

theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle:

they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn:

they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:

they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful:

they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart:

they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers:

they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:

theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.'

Reflection on the Church interior

The word "all" in today's feast is significant, as we celebrate not only the canonised saints but also all those who lived holy lives and are now with God in heaven, many of whom have never been formally recognised by the Church. This vast, uncountable multitude is described in today's first reading as coming from "every nation, race, tribe, and language." In their own unique ways, they reflected the qualities of discipleship that Jesus describes in the Beatitudes, our Gospel reading today.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus offers us a vision of the saint we are all called to be. Each beatitude can be seen as a piece of coloured glass in a stained glass window, collectively forming the image of a true disciple. While Jesus is the perfect embodiment of the Beatitudes, they also outline the kind of person we are called to become, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Some of us may naturally resonate with certain beatitudes more than others, but living out one often leads to living out the others. For instance, those who hunger for righteousness may also mourn over the world's sinfulness and show mercy, seeking peace and reconciliation. Each beatitude is interconnected, forming a complete picture of the Christian life, like the facets of a diamond reflecting different angles of the same light.

The interior view illustrated above is of the Church of All Saints in Minsk, Belarus. It is a significant and striking modern Orthodox Christian church. Officially known as the Church of All Saints and in Memory of the Victims of War, it is one of the largest and most prominent churches in Belarus. Construction of the Church began in 1996 and it was completed in 2008, with its consecration taking place in 2010. It was built to commemorate Belarusians who lost their lives in various wars and conflicts, with a special emphasis on the sacrifices made during World War II. As you can see, the interior of the church is richly adorned with mosaics, frescoes, and iconography of many saints.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-1-12a-2024/