The call to be a saint

We are all called to be holy; we are called to be saints. It is God’s will for each of us. This is the Church’s desire for everyone, regardless of how much we may deny or refuse to accept it due to false humility or feelings of unworthiness. We might say, “Oh no, I’m just a humble parishioner; I don’t deserve that recognition. I’m a poor sinner.” Unknowingly, these thoughts may be instigated by the devil, who seeks to prevent our growth in holiness. He wants us to feel dirty and unworthy of God’s love and the saintly life.

In the meditation book, My Other Self: Conversations With Christ on Living Your Faith* by Clarence J. Enzler, Jesus addresses the matter of sainthood:

“My friend, the secret of happiness, both here on earth and in the hereafter, is to be as saintly as possible. A saint is a person who is happy—forever.

To be a saint is a goal that you can surely achieve. While being healthy, rich, and honored may be beyond your power, you can confidently expect to become a saint. Ask this of me, and you shall receive it.

Trust yourself to me without reserve; I assure you that it will be far easier for you to become a saint than not to become one. You desire happiness. Happiness lies in holiness.

Do not suppose that holiness consists of unremitting penance, hair shirts, bloody scourging, trances, and ecstasies, or long nights spent in motionless prayer.

These are not essential to holiness. Holiness consists of but one thing: the union of your will with mine.

The one service you have in your power to offer me is to do my will. The act of love that most honors me is to make your will one with mine, to desire nothing except what I desire, to will all that I will.

It is not sacrifice, but love, that melts my heart. I shall show you how to be a saint. Do as I did; follow in my footsteps.”

I do not deny that life is filled with distractions, temptations, and sufferings that hinder our pursuit of sanctity. However, consider this perspective: even these challenges can serve as means to keep us holy. At times, God gives us trials and tribulations to draw us closer to Him and help us derive strength from Him.

It’s akin to what we hear in this Sunday’s Gospel, the Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat. A man sowed good seeds, but an enemy came at night, while he and his household were asleep, and sowed weeds among the wheat. The next day, his servant reported what had happened, asking his master if he wanted them to pull out the weeds. The master replied, “No, if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time, I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The message of this parable is that, often, God allows persecutions and suffering to occur in our lives to help us remain strong. Evil people may inflict pain and discouragement, but at the final judgment, they will be punished with eternal damnation if they do not repent. While they may make our lives difficult, they will ultimately suffer the consequences of their evil deeds.

Let’s focus on the work before us; let’s continue to embrace and surrender our lives to God’s will so that we may lead saintly lives. Amen.

With warm regards,