We’re often accustomed to living every day with a routine. When something interrupts our plans, it causes chaos in our daily structure. As it happens, unpredictable events are quite common, and it may feel as if every day we struggle just to break even with our work, our family duties, and other responsibilities. Consequently, we frequently don’t take time to think that we’re in this world to get to heaven and to be a saint, each and every one of us.
But within his plan of infinite love for us, God has always wanted us with him and for him. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ told us what to do to be holy:
1
PRAY TO THE FATHER
A simple, trusting and humble prayer will bear much fruit:
“But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
(Mt 6:6-8)
2
DO THE WILL OF GOD
It’s not enough to believe. The assumption that it is only leaves us with an accommodating attitude. It doesn’t move us to get rid of our pride and the defects that distance us from God. Jesus was clear:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
(Mt 7:21)
3
BEING UNITED WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Unity is a sign of love among Christians. It’s not easy to love everyone, which is why Jesus prayed that those he sent would understand the importance of their witness to the world:
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one…”
(Jn 17:20-22)
4
FORGIVE ALWAYS
Christians should always forgive. The world insists that self-love comes first and then other people, but that isn’t Christ’s teaching:
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
(Mk 11:25-26)
5
HELP WITHOUT ANNOUNCING IT
In the age of practically instantaneous social media, everyone quickly finds out about the good we do, offering applause and recognition. We have to be careful because it could be our only reward:
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
(Mt 6:1-4)
And today we celebrate...