I am born and Called to become a Saint

Gospel Thoughts

31st Week : Sunday

GOSPEL Matthew 5:1-12

First Reading - Rev 7:2-4, 9-14

Second Reading 1 John 3:1-3

*All Saints : Solemnity*

*I am born and Called to become a Saint*

*1) There are more or less 11000 saints in the  list of Saints* 

The catholic church believes in the sainthood and it is one of the articles of Faith *The Communion of Saints*

In the official list the saints by the  church,  recognises almost 11000 saints who include martyrs, holy people, religious, lay people, youngsters, family people, parents, and those who lived for Christ. 

This great number shows that sainthood is a reality and it can be achieved by anyone who desires for it, with a discipled way of Life

*2) 1,44,000 people who were sealed - Revelation 7:3*

1,44, 000 is a huge number comprising of people from every tribe.

Further we read *there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white*

So all those who are in the presence of the Lamb are saints and they are infinite in number

 

*3) There is a Call and there is a way shown to attain sainthood*

With Baptism we have been given a special call to the sainthood and there is a way which is kept open in front of us to attain this sainthood. 

Jesus makes it very simple this way of attaining sainthood, by showing various possible but challenging ways. 

These are called the beatitudes or 8 blessed ways, or  a divine ladder which helps a person to claim to the Heaven or to the sainthood. 

*4) The Eight beatitudes*

These 8 beatitudes are 8 different ways through which one can attain sainthood. 

Even if a person practices one beatitudes he will be eligible for the sainthood. 

Since all these beatitudes are interlinked and interconnected one can't practice one beatitudes and remain neutral to the other beatitudes. 

The logic of beatitudes is very simple. 1=8 and 8=1. If a person is able to practice one beatitudes he is practicing all 8 beatitudes. Because one can not practice only one and ignore the others. 

*5) What are these 8 beatitudes?*

*I) Poverty*

It speaks about the spirit of simplicity and simple way of living. Such a life always depends on God and inspires one to trust in God. 

Here poverty is not a dehumanizing condition or a state of life which makes a person to suffer terribly.  Such a condition is not proposed by the beatitudes. 

It simply means the spirit of humility, simplicity and total dependence on God.

*II) Mourning*

Literal meaning of mourning is the expression of Sorrow for some one's death

But here the mourning has a special meaning :  It is a sorrow, which produces repentance to change ones life. 

It is a mourning for doing bad, failing to live God and neighbour. Such sorrow and mourning helps a person to change his/her life

*III) Meek or Meekness*

Meekness is an attitude or a condition which helps a person to open himself to the will of God

Meekness is not a weakness rather it is a strong virtue. 

It is a necessary condition to understand God's Word. 

Meekness is about shrewdness and smartness in a world, where we don't often have the the choices those with power.

The best examples are Naomi and Ruth.

*IV) Hunger and thirst for Righteousness*

One who is hungry and thirsty can't keep quiet. They are the basic necessities of life. 

It is a hunger of the Man who is starving for food, and the thirst of the man who will die unless he drinks 

This type of hunger and thirst not for the material things but for the righteousness

Righteousness means *right doing* and *seeking all of God's spiritual blessings, favour, grace and mercy.

 *V) Mercy*

It is normally used to mean showing compassion, pity, sympathy, forgiveness, kindnesses, tender-heartedness, refraining from harming and punishing. 

Mercy means the ability to get inside the other persons skin until we can see things with his eyes, think with his mind, and feel things with his feelings - William Barclay

*VI) Purity of Heart*

The heart is central to this beatitude because in the Bible the heart stands for the seat, source, reservoir, instigator of our Thoughts attitude, desires, character and motivation

Purity of heart is a *Work in progress* in which both God and man share responsibility

*VII) Way of Peace*

In Hebrew peace always means everything which makes for a man's highest good

In the Bible peace means not only freedom from all troubles, it means enjoyment of all good. 

*Those who plan for peace have Joy Proverbs 12:20*

*VIII) Way of Persecution*

Persecution is a blessing in disguise designed to bring out the best of Christian Character 

It can make us to keep ourselves away from sin, because it shows the foolishness of the friendship of the World. 

Persecution which is characterised or for the sake righteousness is very important. 

*Persecution for the right doing* is a way to sainthood - Example Fr Stan Swamy

*6) Am I ready to accept God's plan*

First of all the invitation to sainthood. Realising this fact that I am called to sainthood is very important

Making efforts from our part also necessary. 

It is not a automatic thing which is gained by chance. Need to work for it with the collaboration of God

*Desire to appear your name in the list of thr saints One day in the future*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*