The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:12

Most of us would probably think it egotistic, if not blasphemous, to call ourselves saints. Nevertheless, “Saint” was one of the earliest names given to one who followed Christ. We, too, can claim this designation. That is our goal in life, the only goal which makes any sense of life with all its injustice and strange turns of events. Unless you and I become saints, our lives are failures.

To be a saint means to be faithful to Christ. It means reaching out to the world with generosity and compassion. It also means suffering, but with the sure knowledge that God is with us. Being a saint means living in the confidence that we are wrapped in the great circle of people gone before us and who have followed the lead of God who is our beginning and our end.

To be a saint means living common lives and doing common things with uncommon generosity. It means living in a way that says that there is more to life than meets the eye. Thus, the blessed are not those who work to be righteous in God’s sight. The blessed are those who know that God alone can make them righteous. The blessed are not those who do impossible things. The blessed are those who recognize that God alone makes all things possible.

Sainthood is a calling to which we are all heirs. We proclaim this birthright every time we profess our faith in the “communion of saints.” We claim our birthright every time we recognize our lowliness, every time we act with mercy and compassion, every time we set our hands to do the work of peace, every time we die and rise for the sake of Him who calls us to sainthood.

Be glad and rejoice in following Christ for your reward in heaven is great.

Fr. Hugh Duffy.