Your own sainthood

Good News Reflection
Monday of the 31st Week of Ordinary Time
November 1, 2010

Today's Feast: All Saints
Give thanks for prayer support:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/AllSaints.htm

Today's Readings:
Rev 7:2-4, 9-14
Ps 24:1-6
1 John 3:1-3
Matt 5:1-12a
http://www.usccb.org/nab/110110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_11_01.mp3

Your own sainthood

YOU are a saint. Don't argue with me, I know you're a saint, because a saint is anyone who's either in heaven or on their way to heaven by following Christ. In the Creed we say, "I believe in the communion of saints..." That includes you! It's the whole community of Christ-followers. For All Saints Day, we should include our own sainthood in the celebration of all saints.

Look at today's first reading. We could see this as a huge prayer meeting in heaven, but it's not just about the after-life. You, right now, are part of that "great multitude" when you worship God enthusiastically. Every time we praise God, we're joining ourselves to the whole communion of saints, including our loved ones who left earth in the Lord's arms.

We're also united to them after our sins are absolved in the mercy of God through theSacrament of Reconciliation, for then we, too, have "washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Until the next time we sin, we're on the Lord's mountain, standing in a holy place, because our hands are sinless, our hearts are clean, and we are not desiring what is vain (as today's responsorial psalm says).

The same unity occurs when we receive the Eucharist after making a heartfelt journey through the prayers of repentance and requests for forgiveness that the Church provides during each Mass. That is, until we get mad at the guy in the parking lot who briefly blocks our escape from church into the world.

As today's second reading points out, we are saints because we are God's children. The saints in heaven have the advantage of being free from evil, while we live in a sin-filled world. But notice how we become pure: The hope (i.e., belief in God's promise) that eventually we'll be holy all the time should energize us to purge our lives of unholiness now. This hope is based on knowing that Christ redeems us from sin, the Father forgives us, and after death, whatever clean-up still remains to be done, it will be done in purgatory.

Today's Gospel reading reminds us that we are saints because we are blessed. Isn't anything that God blesses made holy? Therefore, any person whom God blesses is made holy: the poor in spirit, those who mourn and receive the Holy Spirit's comfort, the meek who stand firm in what's right without arrogance or force, and so on down the list of beatitudes. Meditate on each blessing and notice your sainthood AND the challenge to become more saintly by improving how you live the truth of each beatitude.

The Church canonizes saints so we can have role models whose prayers assist us on the journey to heaven. We should not compare our lives to theirs, for we all have different circumstances in which to grow in holiness. We can only compare ourselves to what we used to be like. Meanwhile, we can pray with the saints and accept their spiritual guidance.

For further reflection on the Beatitudes, read the Good News WordByte "Living the Beatitudes" at http://wordbytes.org/SpirGrowth/beatitudes1.htm
and for a printable copy or for distributing it to others, please go to Catholic Digital Resources: http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/beatitudes.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
Sign up for your own subscription! Go to http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections

Why do I need your help in my daily ministry?
Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. Please visithttp://gnm.org/donate.htm where you can make a real difference - even if you cannot make a financial donation!

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries http://gnm.org is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources, LLC http://catholicdr.com is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Sign up at http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
or change your address
or unsubscribe