Sunday Missive: The Saints We Need, The Saints in Us

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SUNDAY MISSIVE

THE SAINTS WE NEED, THE SAINTS IN US.

A friend sent me this last week, attributed to Pope John Paul II, and it hit deep. Just who is a Saint in our lives?

Listen to what Saints he looked for:

We need saints without veil or cassock. We need saints who wear jeans and sneakers. We need saints who go to the movies, listen to music and hang out with friends. We need saints who put God in first place, who let go of their power.

We need saints who have time everyday to pray and who know how to date in purity and chastity, or who consecrate their chastity. We need modern saints, Saints of the 21st century with a spirituality that is part of our time.

We need saints committed to the poor and the necessary social changes. We need saints who live in the world and who are sanctified in the world, who are not afraid to live in the world. We need saints who drink Coke and eat hot dogs, who are Internet-savvy, who listen to CDs.

We need saints who passionately love the Eucharist, yet are not ashamed to drink a soda or eat pizza on weekends with friends. We need saints who like movies, the theater, music, dance, sports. We need saints who are social, open, normal, friendly, happy and who are good companions.

We need saints who are in the world and know how to taste the pure and nice things of the world but who aren’t of the world.

(St. John Paul II, Pope)

He could as well have been talking of you and me.

We have this image of a Saint as an extraordinary being with the most innocent face, white robes, wings to fly (come here Equity bank!), a sweet melodious voice and everything heavenly; someone out of this world.

We don’t see Saints in the everyday people we interact with, or even in ourselves; someone we would match in our very lives.

It could be that man or woman giving her all to bring up their children the best way they know how. That motorist who opts to get late at work to take an injured accident victim to hospital. The quiet giver whose tithe goes to a children’s home. That woman or man who chooses educating the children of her or his financially challenged sibling over marriage at the ‘right time’ or buying her dream car or property. A landlord who forfeits rental income to facilitate a challenged tenant get out one of those life’s downwards.

That’s the man or woman who undertakes sacrifices to make life better for others.

It’s just like the enemy.

Many of us think of the devil as that black, incongruous creature with seven uneven horns, ugly protruding teeth, a tongue sticking out of the mouth dripping with human blood, spiky hair, and shapeless feet that has the heels thrusting out at the back.

They don’t think of the devil as that corrupt fellow who kills generations by counterfeiting products and services. Or that civil servant who swindles the government of tax payers’ money, denying millions quality services like health, education and good infrastructure.

It could be the doctor who neglects his patients, or a lawyer who connives to swindle a client who trusted him, or even a teacher who bribes to get leaked exams for his students. Or that gossip who breaks up a marriage or tarnishes an innocent person’s reputation, even the beautiful woman and handsome guy who breaks others’ hearts with reckless abandon.

That privileged person who uses their positions to oppress others and gain undue advantage fits the bill, as well as you and i when we choose evil over good.

It’s all about the selfishness and greed that feeds human folly.

Ultimately, it all comes down to doing the right thing, a choice between virtue and vice, electing good or evil.

It’s within your grasp to be a Saint right here on earth. Think about that in every situation of your life, your day to day interaction with everyone.

Are you a Saint the world needs?

Have a Saintly Sunday, and a great week ahead.

By George Kimando

The post Sunday Missive: The Saints We Need, The Saints in Us appeared first on LitKenya.

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