😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you. There is just something special to me about the Feast of All Saints. It’s not something that I really proactively think about, but for some reason it puts joy in my heart. Actually, I came to this realization on Monday evening during Mass, as I caught myself smiling and feeling happy about being there in that moment. There are so many saints. “A great cloud of witnesses” as they are called in Hebrews 12:1, who are purposefully placed all over this world. Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the list goes on.
So, what’s the difference between God’s chosen and the saints? Every single person, born and unborn, has been chosen by God to be His own. Every visible and invisible feature, made in His likeness, including free will. By giving us the gift of free will, He is allowing us the great pleasure of making the decision to choose Him. He never wants to force us, but offer us that option of being in relationship with Him. Which leads us to the saints.
Who are they and how did they become the saints? First, let’s take a moment to recognize the fact that the vast majority of saints don’t have the official title of Saint. More times than not, they are called Mom, Dad, sister, brother, friend…you get the picture. Saints are God’s chosen (which we recognized earlier is every single one of us), who have chosen God in return and acted upon His invitation to be His representative in this life. As Msgr. James Vlaun, President/CEO of Catholic Faith Network asked in his homily on Monday, “What do the saints look like? They look like us.” To paraphrase, he also said that Holy people allow the radiance and being a child of God, to shine through them.
Take a few moments today, as they come to your mind, to think about the saints in your life. Those that have gone before you and those that are still present and you continue to experience. With the saints, it’s not just about knowing them. It’s about experiencing them and the radiance they shine forth, as an extension of our Lord and Savior. Drink them in so that you can then pour forth and fill another’s cup.
Bless others and be blessed.
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#Msgr.JamesVlaun – President/CEO, Catholic Faith Network
#AudioAdrenaline – Sound of the Saints
Third Day Devotions 