The feast of All Saints is, first and foremost, a celebration of those many saints, known and unknown, who have gone before us. Now they live in the presence of God. We tend to think of them as shadowy figures from the past. Nothing could be further from the truth. Theirs is the fullness of life, a life that constantly rejoices in Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that delights in their presence. These are the saints described in the Book of Revelation, “a huge number, impossible to count, who stood before the Lamb and cried victory to our God and to the Lamb”. The language and imagery of the Book of Revelation are indeed strange to a modern world, but they seek to express a universal longing. This longing reaches beyond mere survival. It is a longing for the fullness of life, a longing that is completed only in the perfect gift of self and the revelation of our deepest selves in the presence of God. The Book of Revelation, arising as it did at a time when faith was tested to the limit, was intended as an encouragement to the many, like ourselves, who struggle with the call of Jesus “to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”. The Book assures us that we are not alone in our struggle. We stand as one with the countless number that have gone before us, who have come through every trial to stand in the presence of God. They form a living communion with us. Their faithfulness becomes our faithfulness, and our struggles their deepest concern. We who are so reluctant to think of ourselves as saints in the making are reminded by St John of the sanctity already achieved in us. “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called the children of God, and that is what we are.” We are easily discouraged if we think of sanctity as a reward that we must work to deserve. St John is quite clear that this is a gift that we already possess, because we are already the children of God. We are not striving to become holy, but seeking to live and grow in a sanctity already entrusted to us. St John goes on to promise that one day, the fullness of what we have already become in Christ will be revealed. On that day we shall see in ourselves the likeness of Christ. “Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.” If our life is already shared with Christ, then its daily living will witness to his presence. Like Christ we shall seek a poverty of Spirit that entrusts itself to the Father. We shall seek Christ’s gentleness, his peace and his mercy. This article first appeared in the Catholic Herald magazine (30/10/15) Take up our special subscription offer – 12 issues currently available for just £12!