Homily All Saints “Saints Live in the Present Not Just in the Past”
Homily All Saints “Saints Live in the Present Not Just in the Past”
The first thought that pops into our minds when we hear the word saint are the church’s canonized list of saints. Maybe as we contemplate that list of saints which is made up of all sorts of people from the very young to the very old, rich and poor, male and female, ordained and lay we may ask just ask what the qualifications to be a Saint are? What we are saying, if we say a person is a saint, is that we believe they are in heaven with God.
The profile of the saints has changed during the history of the church. In the earliest days of Christianity, it was thought that the only way to be a saint was to be a martyr. The church was persecuted in the beginning. The Roman Empire viewed Christians with suspicion. Now this was because Christians gathered in groups. Certain ceremonies were secretive. Christians also were non-violent. Soldiers were known to refuse to fight once they converted. Also, Christians cultivated virtues like humility and voluntary poverty which could undermine the order of society. Christians refused to worship Roman Gods. Also, they did want to recognize Caesar as the Lord of their lives. For all these reasons and more Christians were arrested. Many were executed.
The Christian faith was even more disturbing to authorities because Christians did not seem to mind dying for their faith because they believed this it was heroic. At times Jesus’ followers even seemed to look forward to it. Martyrs like Agnus, Cecilia, Peter, Paul and Polycarp were revered for their bravery. Torture of any kind did not cause them to deny their faith. The church still believes that martyrdom is related to Sainthood. If someone is declared a martyr, they skip all the steps that non-martyrs must go through to become canonized Saints.
As the church’s history went on, the persecutions ceased. Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. If someone became Christian it wasn’t risky, but it was a matter of conforming to the norms of society. Many Christians wanted to make a sacrifice for God, but they wondered how? From 500 to 1000 AD concept of the white martyrs began. Men and women went out to the Egyptian desert to live or to other inhospitable places. Communities of contemplatives were formed. Christian hermits began to live penitential lives fasting, living in poverty, being obedient to religious superiors. People like St. Anthony wrote about the wisdom they attained living the contemplative life. Legends were told about heroic monks. Miracles were attributed to them. Eventually, the church recognized them as saints.
The third wave of saints were those who were what we would call the saints who practiced Christian charity. Such saints were people who lived vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but they didn’t retreat from the world, no, they served the world. Saints like St. Francis and St. Dominic were wandering friars who fed the hungry, nursed the sick, instructed the ignorant. Saints like this were the missionaries who took Christianity to far off places.
We see by this review of history that there isn’t one way to be saintly. Saintliness has been defined and redefined through the centuries. We might ask who the saints are in our midst. Every time there is a shift in history new saints seem to emerge with new ways of showing their sanctity.
Who will be considered the saints right now? Perhaps it would be the health care workers who are taking care of COVID patients. Many are giving their lives. According to statistics 1700 health care providers have lost their lives to COVID. 60% are people of color. But those are just cold statistics. Such people all have a story.
One Doctor who died was name Madhui Aya. She worked in an emergency room in Brooklyn. She was 64 when she died of COVID. Madhui migrated from India in 1994 following her husband to the United States. When the COVID epidemic started. Madhui was very afraid of bringing the virus home to her husband who was older than her. When she started to cough, she immediately quarantined herself in one part of her house. Her symptoms rapidly grew worse. She entered the hospital. Her family and her kept in touch by text because they couldn’t be with her.
On the day of her death in intensive care her 18-year-old daughter texted her, “Good morning Mommy! It’s a new day I’m praying that you come home safely to me. I need you.” Madhui replied, “I love you. Mom will be back.” She wasn’t able to keep her promise.
Such stories are being repeated day after day. Stories of migrants who come to our shore, who are on the frontlines right now taking care of us. Stories of people of every color who lay down their lives. Such people, we hear, are wearing down and wearing out. Many Some have joined the Communion of Saints. We revere them with all the other saints today.
Reflection Questions:
- What do I consider saintly behavior? Does a person need to be canonized to be a saint?
- Can a non-Catholic be a Saint? Who would be examples of non-Christians who might be saints?
Dear Parishioners,
On Monday we began a novena in anticipation of the election. Today is the seventh day. We begin with an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be and then we reflect on the following:
“May there be a transformation of politics to focus on the dignity of the human person and the common good.”
Let us pray for a revolution of the heart in Washington and in our local governments that makes our social agenda look like that of Christ. Pray that our politicians work to make quality health care accessible to all people, in the spirit of Jesus who healed. Let us pray that leaders stop preferring their own personal interest over the good of all, that politicians remember it is in their duty as elected officials to truly embody the spirit of a public “servant.”
Pray that we and our leaders would not be the Pontius Pilates of our day. How do we crucify others and Christ among us? Pray for remedy and reparation for those our nation harms; In our prayer, let us remember that hoping after Christ’s peace is not something to be flouted for a personal agenda-the hope for Christ’s peace urges us to seek genuine love and justice. We must ask God to keep reminding us what his kingdom really means, remaining open to repentance that moves us closer to the sacrificial, wholehearted nature of his love. Let our love not be fleeting or fickle.
May our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark