ALL  SAINTS  DAY

TWO  OSERVATIONS

 

FIRST OBSERVATION- A BELIEF IN RESURRECTION

 

We Christians believe in the resurrection. We directly say that when we say  in the Nicean creed: “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” We also say that in Apostles Creed when we say near the end of the creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

 

We’re saying that Christ rose from the dead and the Saints are still alive as well because they too rose from the dead.

 

So that’s the first observation:   we believe in life after death.  Jesus and the Saints are alive for starters. Not everyone believes this.  We do.

 

SECOND OBSERVATION:  THE SAINTS ARE MODELS FOR THE HERE AND NOW – FOR LIFE HERE ON EARTH BEFORE DEATH

 

So we look at Saints as models on how to do life.

 

We look at Saint Joseph as a model to quietly be there to protect each other.

 

We look to Saint Anthony as a model to help others who lose things.

We look to Saint Francis Assisi to become instruments of  peace  to and for each other.

 

We look to Saint Alphonsus – San Alfonso -  as a model on how to use our time well – especially to be there for the poor and neglected.

 

We look to both Teresas to have and to live an inner life.

 

We look to Philip Neri to have a smile on our face and a sense of humor in our lives.

 

We look to Francis de Sales to say to each other – especially the nervous Nellies in our neighborhoods:  “Omnia suaviter” -  translation “Caln down” or “Nice and easy.”

 

We look to Saint Thomas the Apostle to voice our doubts and scream out when we know, “My Lord and My God.”

 

We need St. Luke the Gospel writer to remember and tell each other the parables of Jesus – like the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan and Lazarus at our doorway.

 

We need St. Martin of Tours to remind us to give the shirt off our back to the cold and the naked – as we meet them on the roads of life.

 

We need saints like Katherine Drexel to hold babies like John McGowan

 

And especially we need people like the great Andrew the Apostle to bring others to Christ like he did for  his brother Peter.