I don't know what it is, but there's something about All Saints day that I always look forward to.
It's an opportunity to remember the incredible groups of people who have helped ensure our amazing faith remains strong. It also allows us to take a moment to appreciate the hard work these people did, the sacrifices they made and the way they love God.
If I'm honest though, as I've grown older, the real reason why I love All Saints Day and any time where I get a chance to read about the Saints is that these people are ordinary, normal, everyday people just like me, but they give me hope I can achieve great things by the way they lived out their lives.
As a video I watched on Saints says "most saints are ordinary anonymous men and women".
Earlier this year, I wrote about how we are all called to be saints and spoke about how we need to step out of the lives and be saints, following the great Saints example and growing in humility along the way.
It's easy however to say that we can all be saints. It's a lot harder to get started and actually live the life of one.
While being humble is part of it, the Saints were more than just humble, they also were people who changed the world for the better in all that they did.
The thing that we need to realise for our own lives as saints is that, they all did this task in very different ways.
St Paul for example, was a witness of being saved by God, where as St Nicholas of Myra was an example of believing in God in every circumstance and of generosity. St Joan of Arc went into battle with weapons where as Blessed Mother Teresa also went into battle, but in a very different way as she battled illness, cared for the dying and built a future for young women.
None of the Saints did something that was better than the other- they are all seen equally as being inspiring in the path of God. They were all different but they all had one goal- to do God's will for their lives to the best of their ability.
Every man and woman has a talent, gift or ability that is uniquely theirs. Sure there may be similarities, but the way a persons personality interacts with their skill makes it unique to them and them alone.
God put each one of us on this earth to use that unique ability to change the world for the better. He calls us to sainthood by giving us the opportunity, as people of faith, to answer this call everyday of our lives.
Now that might seem like a big task so if you're struggling for ideas, here's some hints as to how you can be a modern saint in the world today...
- If your talent is talking, then get out there and spend time with those who are lonely or don't fit into society. Your words of support and friendship could change a life.
- If your talent is helping out others, then start organising fundraisers and events that raise money or just go out and help by volunteering wherever needed.
- If you like making computer programs, then why not make programs that help make lives better, especially those most in need.
One of the main reasons I write these pieces is because I have realised that one of my talents from God is inspiring others and I can also write, so put these two together and this is what I came up with.
Whether you are cleaning a floor or are balancing accounts for a major corporation, you matter and the gifts you possess will lead people closer to Christ if you're willing to live out his name in all that you do.
So what are you waiting for, get out there from this All Saints Day and go and become the saints that God called us all to be.
Till next time..
Till next time..
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