Please read the passage before the homily.
Today the Church celebrates all the holy women and men of all generations whom God has called through death into the eternity of God’s kingdom. Our brothers and sisters of the faith of Islam emphasize as a basic tenet that all must submit themselves to God. It should not be surprising to us that Jesus likewise teaches us to submit ourselves to God.
What do these beatitudes have in common with each other? Each of them gives us as aspect of what submission means. We are not rich because we must depend on God for all that is of value. We mourn because only God can give us happiness. We are meek because we have nothing in ourselves worth boasting about. Our righteousness comes not from us, but from God. Our only hope is in God’s mercy. Our hearts are clean only when we gaze on the face of God. Only God’s way is the way to true peace and only God can admit us into the kingdom.
I think this is a good insight into God’s plan, into how we fit in the kingdom of God. If, however, it is a good insight, then I must admit that it did not come from me, but from God.
All our talents and all our gifts come to us from God, and we can take no credit for the gifts we have received. Our only reason for boasting is that despite our sinfulness, God stays close to us. God has given us faith in God and ability to believe in God.
The way of submission is not to think that we are so good that God is happy to know us. Rather it is to think that we have a negative balance in our relationship with God, but that God still chooses to stay with us.
Blessed, then, and holy are those who submit themselves to God.