At that time, 1 seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down. The disciples came to him, 2 and Jesus began to teach them: 3

 At that time, 1 seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down. The disciples came to him, 2 and Jesus began to teach them: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are the afflicted, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

— Word of Salvation. Reflection Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. When did this celebration begin? In the first centuries of the Christian era, the martyrs immediately became venerable people for their example of total dedication to Jesus Christ. The Apostles and the other holy martyrs were lovingly assimilated by the people of God in the deepest expressions of their faith. They became official witnesses of the faith. "After the great persecutions of the Roman Empire, men and women who lived the Christian life in a beautiful and heroic way gradually began to become examples of veneration: the first saint, who was not a martyr, was Saint Martin of Tours. At the end of the year 1000, a process of canonization began, until the miracles were proven. The Solemnity of All Saints began in the East in the 4th century. It then spread to different dates. In Rome, on May 13th; in England and Ireland, from the 8th century onwards, on November 1st, a date that was also adopted in Rome, from the 9th century onwards. This Solemnity was celebrated at the end of the liturgical year, when the Church kept its gaze fixed on the end of earthly life, thinking of those who had passed through the gates of Heaven." (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/solemnity-of-all-saints-.html). As for the Gospel, some details from the text: Jesus sees the crowds, the disciples come to HIM, and He begins to teach them. Jesus sees the crowds, sees the people of God, sees humanity in need of a total transformation, of a new life, of a new direction, of a new logic, of a new horizon, of a true encounter with God. It is not possible to elevate man on the plain of the world, because it indicates the logic of power, of domination, of those who command and think only of themselves; of those who act only in the name of food, drink, health, success, fame and pleasure at any cost. This is what they call happiness. It is necessary to climb the mountain of a new way of life according to the will of God, a life open to the action of the Spirit of God, guided by the power of love. The mountain is this reality of the Word of God, of the experience with the Savior; It is the “Mount Sinai” of the New Testament, the place where Jesus Christ planned for His disciples, the constitution of the New People of God. His disciples are close by there, precisely because the disciple’s place is beside and facing his Master, for they will be His continuators in history. The Beatitudes, brought by Matthew and Luke, are “universal solemn proclamations”, they are congratulations and congratulations to those who set out on the Road to salvation, they are an invitation to divine Wisdom, to the practice of God’s Law, to a true life of humility, simplicity, obedience and trust in the power of God. Furthermore, they determine the condition of those who wish to live according to Jesus Christ, for they will be called to a life entirely dedicated to God and to others, demonstrating an existence of service out of love. The Beatitudes are exactly what Jesus Himself experienced; they are not simply observations of the social environment, but the very reality of Jesus among us. The Beatitudes are also decisive for a future of liberation. It is for freedom that everyone cries out and fights. This is not just any freedom, but the freedom of God’s children, the freedom that comes from overcoming oneself, from eliminating sin and death. Jesus is the bearer of true liberation. His presence is a sign of the Kingdom of God present among men, and is God’s intervention on behalf of the poor, the hungry and the suffering in general. In Luke, there is a focus more on the concrete reality of these people; in Matthew, there is also a spiritual concern for this situation. In short, Jesus is interested in going to the “deeper waters” of human misery and expects an inner response from all those who are touched by Him. Those who make the Beatitudes their life project will not become weaker, as Nietzsche claimed; on the contrary, they will find the legitimate strength of combat.