"They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.  They cried out in a loud voice:  'Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.'"

When I step back to consider what mysteries are shown at the gathering of the Body of Christ at Mass, passages like this one now come to mind.  I think of the people of God standing around the altar in praise to the One who has made all things new, singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy!"  These are the saints in training.

[Fancy word warning]
It's the eschatological reality of a redeemed humanity revealed today in our midst.  It's revealed every day that the Body of Christ gathers to worship God. 

I am just learning now to contemplate this mystery as it's revealed during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  I look at those gathered and think, "What a motley crew we are, yet here is the sign of a renewed humanity!"  ["Yikes!"] 

But, this is what the goodness of God reveals in the very simple picture of the Body of Christ at prayer in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  So, I would like to offer a simple litany of praise to God for this wonder of the Body of Christ that reveals itself every day around the world.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are all single moms who do the best for their kids every day, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are our dear, fragile elderly who show up at Mass whenever they can, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are trapped in addictions, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who live with people trapped in addictions, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are people who have big dreams and larger fears that paralyze them, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the scrupulous, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the suburbanites who fear to travel near the inner city, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.
Blessed are folks that work three jobs and can't make ends meet, for they shall inherit the land.
Blessed are those who aren't beautiful or successful or rich, for they shall inherit the land.
Blessed are our immigrants who serve society in menial jobs, for they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the families of people killed on September 11th, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the families of people who died unnoticed on September 12th, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are all who will mourn their losses due to terrorism and war, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are workers who have been "downsized," for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the firefighters and cops in NYC who died on September 11th, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the generous people who offer friendly help to neighbors, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the aid workers in so many countries where famine and starvation run rampant, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are all those who get overlooked in well-intentioned litanies like this, for they shall see God!