ALL SAINTS DAY/ 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
WE NEED SAINTS!
MT. 5:1-12a
MESSAGE
An old priest friend urged me to write a book on saints in Tagalog, since he said the only other one in existence was a very old edition. I did so and completed 4 volumes. Recently I learned that a diocese has recommended it to be read before Masses when there are feasts of saints. The right suggestion and a correct decision, for indeed, we still need the saints!
People today need to be familiar with the saints. We need to hear the heroic love of those who professed their faith in Jesus in life and even in the face of death. They responded to the call of the Lord in today’s Gospel to be “blessed” in the eyes of the Father.
But we must also be aware that saints are found not only in books. St. Pope John Paul II was criticized for declaring so many saints and blessed during his time. However, the reason he gave is important for us to know. Saints are not passé; not outdated; not an extinct species. Jesus still echoes his call today, calling us to live as blessed in the world; in other words, to live as saints. Saints are all around us, bestowing grace in a world that needs good examples, prayer partners, and holy friends. You may even be the saint in your family or social circle, without knowing it.
So connected to the saints are the souls of our “dear departed” who lived normal imperfect lives while with us on earth. In Purgatory, they are being purified and one day they will take their place in heaven; like us, they are still “saints-in-process.” We help them with our prayers as they also assist us with theirs. Love and holy unity know no distance and overcome all barriers.
REFLECT
This day, and all through November, let us reflect on the lives of our Catholic holy men and women; let us also remember lovingly our dear departed who left behind inspiring memories in our lives. Most importantly, return to the words of the Lord and see how you can be among the “blessed ones!”
*I thank the Diocese of Malolos Liturgical Commission for recommending my book series “Isang Sulyap sa mga Santo…” for public reading before Mass; the books may be out of print but the contents are also here in this website. God bless!
Check out my books, now available as ebooks on Google Play Book Catalog: 1) Kilalanin si Ka Luring Franco, Pilipinang katekista na kandidata sa pagiging santa – https://play.google.com/store/search?q=simpleng%20katekista&c=books&hl=en_GB; 2) Matutunan ang Ignatian discernment o pagkilatis ng mga espiritu – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Fr_Ramil_Marcos_PAGKILATIS_SA_MGA_ESPIRITU_Gabay_s?id=dZUbEgAAQBAJ&hl=en_GB; Happy Spiritual Reading! God bless!
