On my recent trip to Malta and Rome, it was such a thrill treading paths that saints once trod, being steps away from where miracles happened or standing in front of saints' relics, giving thanks for their lives and asking them to intercede for me in prayer.
Why I love saints is because they are real men and women who lived life passionately in love with God. While some had chequered and colourful pasts, all had their own peculiar struggles and situations. More significantly, they were all united in their unwavering love for our Creator.
There is so much I can learn from these elder statesmen and stateswomen who reflect the goodness of God and brought much needed light into the world during the times they lived. They are like the constellations of stars that shine in the night skies, guiding travellers the right way forward in a uniquely beautiful and inspiring way.
In every age we live, there is darkness, a darkness brought on by fear, hatred, envy, greed, and other abhorrent products from the failings of human nature. What do we do with the darkness? Do we live with it, tolerate it? Oftentimes I catch myself thinking that I am unable to change things so why try? But it is the responsibility of every human being to uphold justice and set right the wrongs we see before us. All the more if we call ourselves followers of Christ, we are called to be saints, people who bear an exceptional likeness to Jesus in thought, manner and action.
We are called to build His Church as Saint Francis of Assisi was tasked with, and we contribute as Saint Francis did, with a radical poverty of spirit, or in the quiet, ordinary way new Saints Louis and Zelie Martin did, by being good, hardworking citizens, raising five daughters who went on to serve God in religious communities, one of whom is a saint who has touched many with her Little Way of Love, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus. It doesn't matter where we are in life, we can make a difference even in the most limiting of circumstances for the tipping point lies in our disposition of hearts.
Jesus chose ordinary, unschooled men to be His disciples. Even the women who followed Him were known sinners. He did not pick the most capable or the most courageous. He called people like you or me, not very remarkable, who come with our own faults and quirks, and all He asks is we say yes and leave the rest up to Him.
If we long to see His face, then we will eventually leave off from desiring worthless things and grow in holiness (today's psalm, 24). It takes time, much pruning and a whole lot of prayer, but we can be much more. We can always be much more, especially if we claim our identities as God's children (see 1 John 3:2), and on that identity alone we walk towards an unknown future, not without trepidation, but with faith in our steps and total reliance on a father who loves us very much.
The Feast of All Saints is not just a celebration to commemorate our beloved saints, but it is a feast for the living, those who are on their way to sainthood, you and me. We can draw inspiration from the men and women who have gone before us, and we can continue the work they began. As we do what we need to, we can also pray for their intercession, to help us be more like them, so we can be as fearless and tireless in our endeavours as they were.
Happy All Saints.
We are called to build His Church as Saint Francis of Assisi was tasked with, and we contribute as Saint Francis did, with a radical poverty of spirit, or in the quiet, ordinary way new Saints Louis and Zelie Martin did, by being good, hardworking citizens, raising five daughters who went on to serve God in religious communities, one of whom is a saint who has touched many with her Little Way of Love, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus. It doesn't matter where we are in life, we can make a difference even in the most limiting of circumstances for the tipping point lies in our disposition of hearts.
Jesus chose ordinary, unschooled men to be His disciples. Even the women who followed Him were known sinners. He did not pick the most capable or the most courageous. He called people like you or me, not very remarkable, who come with our own faults and quirks, and all He asks is we say yes and leave the rest up to Him.
If we long to see His face, then we will eventually leave off from desiring worthless things and grow in holiness (today's psalm, 24). It takes time, much pruning and a whole lot of prayer, but we can be much more. We can always be much more, especially if we claim our identities as God's children (see 1 John 3:2), and on that identity alone we walk towards an unknown future, not without trepidation, but with faith in our steps and total reliance on a father who loves us very much.
The Feast of All Saints is not just a celebration to commemorate our beloved saints, but it is a feast for the living, those who are on their way to sainthood, you and me. We can draw inspiration from the men and women who have gone before us, and we can continue the work they began. As we do what we need to, we can also pray for their intercession, to help us be more like them, so we can be as fearless and tireless in our endeavours as they were.
Happy All Saints.
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