a SAINT in the making...
Through him we received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. You also are among them, called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Romans 1:5-7
Last Thursday we celebrated my mom's birthday! Those of you who are date savvy might have put together that the date was November 1st. And some dedicated Catholics might even recognize that holy day. On the first of November every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the saints. And my mom, being that she was born on this day, reminds us every year that this is just because God thinks she's a saint.
Now, let me tell you a few things about my mom. She's single handedly the most influential person in my life. She is beautiful, and goofy, and so kind. She's taught me every important lesson on life and my faith is so much a result of the faith that she has lived throughout her life. In my world, to me, she is a saint.
But until this year, I thought her statement, about God considering her a saint, to be complete bogus. I mean sure, she's been an amazing mom and a good person throughout her life, but nothing I saw would make her famous enough to be what I used to consider a saint.
To me, a saint was someone who did something extraordinary. And in my mind, that kind of life was something to be admired, but not necessarily achieved. That is, until I discovered what being a saint actually means.
The word saint can be defined as, "a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous." When you put it in those terms, it starts to appear in our grasps. It is so simple. Isn't God calling all of us to holiness? Isn't He asking us to live a life of virtue?
Christ is calling us to be saints. You see, my mom, she was born on All Saints Day, but she isn't the only one God considers a saint. Did you ever realize that sainthood is attainable to you? Not only is it attainable, but it is what God is asking of you! Everyday He's calling you to be holy. Everyday He is asking you to make choices that reflect your faith and your trust in Him and that build love. Everyday He is asking you to let go of the world and pursue His kingdom. And though it may not appear as epic as the lives of the saint, everyday you're living your story with Christ and your journey to becoming a saint.
The challenges you face won't look the same. Your struggles will vary. But dive into the lives of the saints, and don't be surprised that at the core, the fight is the same.
What separates a saint from the rest? Well maybe the best example in my life is my mom. As our pastor put it simply in his homily, "A saint never wants the focus to be on them. Instead, they hope their lives lead our eyes back to God."
My mom will give and give and give, never expecting credit or recognition. The saints gave and gave their lives never wanting the glory. The commonality is this, the things they did in their lives may or may not be to our eyes extraordinary, but the love they did them with, make them beautiful. And that love, constantly calls our eyes back to the love of Christ.
God works in all our lives in different ways. Different challenges await each of us. But the way we face these challenges and the things they bring out within us can all help bring glory back to God. Of course your life won't be the same as any of the lives of the saints. But God doesn't want it to be because, the saints have already done those things. Christ has new goals for you and new ways that you can bring the glory back to Him.
Each of us has a gift, if not multiple gifts, to best serve God's kingdom. Sometimes the best way to find holiness, is just to be the person God created you to be! Let God shine through the gifts He has blessed you with! Open your life up to the specific call He has placed in your heart! Following that call, with love and passion and courage, that's how you become a saint.
God is calling you to be a saint. I know, because He's calling me too! We are holy in the eyes of Christ. He has created us as such! Don't be afraid to answer the call. Our lives, reflecting love, have the power to build His Kingdom. And in each of us, sainthood is not just merely an option, but the only choice if we are truly living for heaven.
Romans 1:5-7
Last Thursday we celebrated my mom's birthday! Those of you who are date savvy might have put together that the date was November 1st. And some dedicated Catholics might even recognize that holy day. On the first of November every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the saints. And my mom, being that she was born on this day, reminds us every year that this is just because God thinks she's a saint.
Now, let me tell you a few things about my mom. She's single handedly the most influential person in my life. She is beautiful, and goofy, and so kind. She's taught me every important lesson on life and my faith is so much a result of the faith that she has lived throughout her life. In my world, to me, she is a saint.
But until this year, I thought her statement, about God considering her a saint, to be complete bogus. I mean sure, she's been an amazing mom and a good person throughout her life, but nothing I saw would make her famous enough to be what I used to consider a saint.
To me, a saint was someone who did something extraordinary. And in my mind, that kind of life was something to be admired, but not necessarily achieved. That is, until I discovered what being a saint actually means.
The word saint can be defined as, "a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous." When you put it in those terms, it starts to appear in our grasps. It is so simple. Isn't God calling all of us to holiness? Isn't He asking us to live a life of virtue?
Christ is calling us to be saints. You see, my mom, she was born on All Saints Day, but she isn't the only one God considers a saint. Did you ever realize that sainthood is attainable to you? Not only is it attainable, but it is what God is asking of you! Everyday He's calling you to be holy. Everyday He is asking you to make choices that reflect your faith and your trust in Him and that build love. Everyday He is asking you to let go of the world and pursue His kingdom. And though it may not appear as epic as the lives of the saint, everyday you're living your story with Christ and your journey to becoming a saint.
The challenges you face won't look the same. Your struggles will vary. But dive into the lives of the saints, and don't be surprised that at the core, the fight is the same.
What separates a saint from the rest? Well maybe the best example in my life is my mom. As our pastor put it simply in his homily, "A saint never wants the focus to be on them. Instead, they hope their lives lead our eyes back to God."
My mom will give and give and give, never expecting credit or recognition. The saints gave and gave their lives never wanting the glory. The commonality is this, the things they did in their lives may or may not be to our eyes extraordinary, but the love they did them with, make them beautiful. And that love, constantly calls our eyes back to the love of Christ.
God works in all our lives in different ways. Different challenges await each of us. But the way we face these challenges and the things they bring out within us can all help bring glory back to God. Of course your life won't be the same as any of the lives of the saints. But God doesn't want it to be because, the saints have already done those things. Christ has new goals for you and new ways that you can bring the glory back to Him.
Each of us has a gift, if not multiple gifts, to best serve God's kingdom. Sometimes the best way to find holiness, is just to be the person God created you to be! Let God shine through the gifts He has blessed you with! Open your life up to the specific call He has placed in your heart! Following that call, with love and passion and courage, that's how you become a saint.
God is calling you to be a saint. I know, because He's calling me too! We are holy in the eyes of Christ. He has created us as such! Don't be afraid to answer the call. Our lives, reflecting love, have the power to build His Kingdom. And in each of us, sainthood is not just merely an option, but the only choice if we are truly living for heaven.
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