Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: November 1, 2009Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/November/31stB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Rev 7:2-4, 9-14Ps 24:1bc-61 John 3:1-3Matt 5:1-12ahttp://www.usccb.org/nab/110109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_11_01.mp3
Did you hear the story of the overweight man who couldn't mount his horse? While struggling, he prayed, "All you saints of heaven, help me!" He then leaped up onto the horse, flew over the saddle and tumbled down the opposite side. "All right," he said, "only half of you help me next time!"
How much help do you get from the Saints? Do you know why the Catholic Church makes such a big deal out of declaring that some dead people are Saints and that we should honor them, have statues of them, and pray to them. Actually, theologically, we don't pray "to" any Saint (not even to the Blessed Mother of Jesus), but we do ask them to pray with us and for us (as in the Hail Mary: "pray for us sinners...").
Do you ask your friends here on earth to pray for you? And with you? How much better it is to have friends in heaven!
The canonization of a Saint is the Church's official assurance that here is a person who has arrived in the full glory of unity with God in heaven. The canonization process reaches this conclusion after extremely careful scrutiny and investigation and undeniable proof that the Saint's prayers have produced miracles.
Rev. 7:2-14 depicts the communion of saints. All friends of Jesus share in this communion. Any friend of Jesus is your friend, especially the ones who live in perfect unity with God in heaven. "Those who love you for his sake ... will never desert you," said Saint Teresa of Avila (The Way of Perfection, Chap. IX, 3).
However, to feel their friendship and become aware of their love and their caring support, we must first develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, for it is in God's Spirit that our relationships with the Saints exist.
Which Saints are your friends? Develop (or improve) your connection to them. Read about them. Read their own words in books or search for information about them on the internet. Ask Jesus to introduce them to you. Through the Holy Spirit, tell them what's going on in your life and what extra help you need in your spiritual growth.
Even when we're not aware of what the Saints are doing for us, they are doing something, especially if it will help us grow in holiness.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Which Saints are your special friends? What are you doing to improve those relationships?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has a Saint influenced your life? Share the story of a time when you asked for help from a Saint. What happened?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
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