There is the word of the day Sunday in the greeting –
Saints! Saints - as we are declared by the Scriptures is not by our
keeping of rules and regulations. Just ordinary folks associated with an
extraordinary Savior who transforms our lives. Saints – no longer for Catholics
only. Catholics have saints to cover
every imaginable area of life. If you struggle with frenzy there is St. Dennis;
If you have passion to help the poor you look to St. Regina; If your heart is
set against racism then you have help in St. Katherine; If you have persistent
arm pain then you have a comfort in St. Amelia; For you bachelors, you can find
solace with St. Casmir; For dysfunctional families (are you telling me there
are functional families?) look to St.
Eugene; and last but not least if you suffer with stomach ailments then look to
St. Timothy. This list is quite incomplete but tells an important story, saints
are more saintly when they are useful. Our lives touch others, we are in life
together. For me to be a saint is to realize that every day is replete with
problems and needs and before we touch another person we allow Jesus to touch
our lives. Saints are ordinary folks who are in touch with Christ and are
prepared by the incomparable riches of Christ to touch others with meaning and
purpose. (Ephesians 1)
Barry White can help us here (he should be a saint) when he
sings prophetically, “You’re my first, my last, my everything.” That is a great
expression of our commitment to Christ.
What makes us a saint is the commitment to remain in Him – He is the
first (alpha) and the last (omega), He is our all in all. He is our hope of
glory. In 1963 a young man, P. F. Sloan, only nineteen years of age wrote the
song “The Eve of Destruction”. Who knew it would become the number one song in
the country. Barry McGuire lent his voice to this doomsday song and everyone
commiserated in the misery of the day. The rest of the story is that Barry
McGuire found life in Christ. The song drove him to seek an answer and he found
that answer – Christ alone. McGuire refused to sing his number one hit after
that – he was no longer on the eve of destruction. He became a saint – his life
gave hope to others. He became a voice of hope not despair.
