Saints and Sinners (05/29/2022)

“There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future.” That is one of my favorite quotes from Pope Francis for two reasons: it reminds me of the foundational principle of hope in my life and of what is possible with love. We are all sinners, yet we are all called to be saints. This day, let us consider that we are “Saints in the Making.” The question isn’t whether or not the LORD calls us to saintliness but how we will respond.

We are all called to be saints. Think about it. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. Christ died for all of us and for all our sins, yours, mine, those of our beloved, even those of our enemies. Jesus Christ is our brother; we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, called to love one another as He loved us. Through our baptisms, we are born again and called to be temples of the Holy Spirit. The LORD desires our love and that we have life in abundance. The LORD desires that we be at peace – one – united – whole – and holy.

We all are called. Let us consider this week as we conclude the Easter season all that the LORD has done for us and for our salvation. From the very beginning, the LORD has called us into right relationship with our God and with one another. But we repeatedly turned away from our LORD. When our inability to embrace the LORD’s will and to love the LORD and one another became insurmountable for us, the Father Almighty sent the Son to be our redeemer, to reconcile us with the LORD, and to show us the way to right relationship with our LORD and one another. And through the power of the Spirit and the abundance of grace, we can resolve to love the LORD with our whole being, we can seek to love others as Christ loves us, we can lovingly and with commitment, pick up our crosses and follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Let us all acknowledge the LORD’s desire for us and let us do all we can to grow into the ones the LORD created us to be. If we do that, every day, everywhere, in every way, we will find that our journey is not just to life in, with, and through the LORD but also life in abundance at the foot of the throne of our LORD singing in unison with angels.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

And let us continue to pray for peace in our world and unity among us all – brothers and sisters, all children of the One LORD.

Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we come to You seeking your help in building unity and world peace and in ending the violence and aggression of Russia against Ukraine. Show us the way to restore a world order that honors others’ freedom and that unites us as one humanity. Make us witnesses of justice and love so that we might be agents of your will and defuse the division and defeat the hatred. Grant that your will may be done here on earth as in heaven. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.