November 01, 2016
All Saints
At confirmation, Bishop Malone asked the teen candidates: “Who is a saint?†One replied: “People in heaven.†The Bishop asked: “Who wants to go to heaven?†Almost all hands were raised. Then the Bishop asked: “Who wants to be a saint.†Just a smattering of hands! Yet “becoming a saint†is our calling at baptism. We hesitate to embrace that fundamental vocation because we think saints are perfect. It is an impossible task. Jesus does challenge us to be perfect like our heavenly Father but God knows we will fall short of the mark. Saints readily admit that they are sinners, forgiven, and called to holiness. I just finished watching the movie: “The Letters.†It is a movie about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In her personal letters to her Spiritual Director Mother Teresa confides an interior sense of abandonment or isolation from God. She is convinced of being called by God and that she is doing God’s will but she experiences a profound loneliness as if God is not present. She trusts God is with her but she has no feeling or affection of God being close to her. The Missionary Sisters of Charity are unaware of her inner desolation because Mother Teresa radiates compassion, joy and kindness. In time, Mother Teresa understands that she is experiencing a poverty similar to those whom she cares for and to Jesus himself who prays on the cross: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?†I recommend the movie to you. And also the book: “MY Life With The Saints†by James Martin, S.J. Father Martin writes how the saints can become our inspiration and friends on our journey to heaven.
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31st Sunday Ordinary Time
