Solemnity of All Saints
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Written by Jasmyn Joubert
Each morning when my daughters wake up one of the first things they ask is, “did Dad leave for work yet?” They are always hoping for a morning hug before he heads out the door. When the answer is not what they hoped they are disappointed and anticipate their dad’s return home in the afternoon.
They wake up each day longing to see their father.
Wanting to spend time with him.
Waiting in anticipation to be reunited with him.
This is how the psalm today describes how the people of God feel about Him.
A people who wake up each day longing to see the Father.
Wanting to spend time with Him.
Waiting in anticipation to be reunited with Him.
My daughters often prepare for their dad to come home throughout the day by drawing him pictures or planning what they will do together in the afternoon. So, how can we prepare to be reunited with the Lord? The psalm says this of those who will see the face of God: “one whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” At first glance that seems like a really tough lineup. You might be wondering, “what if I want to see the face of God, but I’m not sinless?!” (I can’t be the only one wondering). To me this is where the redeeming grace of the Lord comes in.
On this All Saints Day we celebrate people who were not perfect. People who made mistakes, people whose hands were not always sinless, whose hearts were not always clean, and who even had some vain desires. St. Teresa of Calcutta once shared, “Saints are only sinners who keep trying.” The Saints were all sinners. Just like you. Just like me. But they didn’t give up. They continued to set their gaze upon the Lord. They continued to long to see God’s face.
How can you keep trying today?
Jasmyn Joubert is a school counselor by trade and a mom of two daughters by vocation. She has a passion for public speaking, specifically on the intersection of faith and mental health. Most recently, Jasmyn was named President of Alive in You Outreach, a non-profit that focuses on creating servant hearts among the teens in our Church. Follow Jasmyn on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.