Holy. Holy? Holy!
By G.A. Madrid
Nov 2, 2017
Nov 2, 2017
Yesterday we have seen a common practice of the times where people young or old dress up to look like witches, ghouls, and other creatures which are terrifying in stature. We call it Halloween. Although it is fun to go trick or treating, collecting candy and eating them towards the end of the day, one point which we seem to have missed is that we are doing the reverse of what we should have been preparing for. Halloween is the shortened term for All Hallow's eve. The hallowed being the saints and eve being the night before a particular date. Therefore, All Hallow's eve is preparation for honoring all the saints. But who are these saints whom we honor today? What's worth honoring about these people who went ahead of us? What does it take to be a "saint"? I would like to emphasize three important characteristics of a saint in order to answer these questions. The first reading tells us of a prophetic vision by John seeing the multitude of men and women in white all present before God adoring and worshipping Him. It gives us a clear description of who these people were and what made them worthy before the presence of the Almighty. “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
These people are heroes. Heroes of the faith. Like any superhero who we see as role model and whom we can count on to save the day, the saints continue to serve as inspiration before and they continue to be so everyday. Though they now rest in God's abiding presence, they are still one with us in prayerful intercession. But as to what motivated them or made them heroes, the second reading provides us with the answer to that. The saints, according to St. Paul are children OF GOD. We must take note of the words "...of God". These people are God's children and being God's children, they must know and acknowledge the Lord our God. Reason may oftentimes tell us to discard such notion of an invisible Lord but even the creation will have to recognize the powerful capability of its maker one way or another. God does not make Himself totally unreachable. Reason may at times fail us in our search of Him, there are ways in which we if we follow it devoutly and bravely, gives us bridges to know Him and His Holy will for us. This is where all the readings find significance, in the application of faith.
The saints in order to be saints must have justified their longing to be saints. The justification is evident in the application of God's commandments which is visible in the beatitudes. They who do what is good and what is right all for the love of God and neighbor, they who dare to endure in their search and thirst for God, they who go deeper and are guided by both faith and reason, blessed are they for they are God's warriors and champions. Amidst all these praises we offer in their honor, we must remember that they were also sinners. Not all of them were holy or faithful at first. There are lots of saints in heaven who committed the most terrible mistakes. This is a sign of hope for us. That if they have conquered the world and its temptations, then we too may also attain the same or greater as they have achieved. Quoting a bishop in his homily months ago, he says that saints not only dream to be saints (dreams remaining as so won't get us anywhere), not only did they wanted to be saints (wanting may change in taste in time), but they really wanted and longed to be saints, and that served as their motivation in walking the various crossroads of life. Knowing all of these, I see no reason not to honor such valiant people, such holy, and humble people. So the next time you dress up for All Hallows Eve, why not portray a saint instead. Then after portraying, learn their life; and after which, imitate. Blessed are these people who conquered life and gave their all for God and neighbor; who saw the world for what it truly is, a ship not the final home. Holy are they and may we who honor them devoutly, learn to imitate their examples that we too might be holy and pleasing before the eyes of God and fellow men.
These people are heroes. Heroes of the faith. Like any superhero who we see as role model and whom we can count on to save the day, the saints continue to serve as inspiration before and they continue to be so everyday. Though they now rest in God's abiding presence, they are still one with us in prayerful intercession. But as to what motivated them or made them heroes, the second reading provides us with the answer to that. The saints, according to St. Paul are children OF GOD. We must take note of the words "...of God". These people are God's children and being God's children, they must know and acknowledge the Lord our God. Reason may oftentimes tell us to discard such notion of an invisible Lord but even the creation will have to recognize the powerful capability of its maker one way or another. God does not make Himself totally unreachable. Reason may at times fail us in our search of Him, there are ways in which we if we follow it devoutly and bravely, gives us bridges to know Him and His Holy will for us. This is where all the readings find significance, in the application of faith.
The saints in order to be saints must have justified their longing to be saints. The justification is evident in the application of God's commandments which is visible in the beatitudes. They who do what is good and what is right all for the love of God and neighbor, they who dare to endure in their search and thirst for God, they who go deeper and are guided by both faith and reason, blessed are they for they are God's warriors and champions. Amidst all these praises we offer in their honor, we must remember that they were also sinners. Not all of them were holy or faithful at first. There are lots of saints in heaven who committed the most terrible mistakes. This is a sign of hope for us. That if they have conquered the world and its temptations, then we too may also attain the same or greater as they have achieved. Quoting a bishop in his homily months ago, he says that saints not only dream to be saints (dreams remaining as so won't get us anywhere), not only did they wanted to be saints (wanting may change in taste in time), but they really wanted and longed to be saints, and that served as their motivation in walking the various crossroads of life. Knowing all of these, I see no reason not to honor such valiant people, such holy, and humble people. So the next time you dress up for All Hallows Eve, why not portray a saint instead. Then after portraying, learn their life; and after which, imitate. Blessed are these people who conquered life and gave their all for God and neighbor; who saw the world for what it truly is, a ship not the final home. Holy are they and may we who honor them devoutly, learn to imitate their examples that we too might be holy and pleasing before the eyes of God and fellow men.