hey you, Saint!
First and Foremost, happy All Saints' Day everyone!
And if you are thinking, "why in heaven's name should All Saints' Day be a happy occasion for me?" then you're not alone. Both Jude and Hsien Li sent sms-es today greeting all a happy feast day, and my immediate reaction to both was "huh?". However upon further reflection and introspection, i realised again the significance of today. Since I'm supposed to start working on my essay in 20 mins, I shall do this as succintly as I can.
The reasons for rejoicing in today's feast are as follows:
1. We were made in God's image and likeness. Therefore we are Saints.
2. We are His Saints on earth. (3 entities of the God's ppl: Church triumphant (Saints in heaven), Church Militant (us), Church Suffering (purgatory))
3. Rejoicing in union with the Saints in heaven.
I remember Archbishop (Emeritus) Gregory Yong's sermons in EVERY confirmation mass he instituted (bcos he always rehashes them!)... He always asks "are we saints?" and as usual there's a deafening silence from the confirmands, when he demands an answer by placing his cupped hand over his ear. Then he'll say, "we don't answer because we're aware of sin in our lives. But the Holy Spirit is the Saint-maker. Do we have the Holy Spirit?" Another deafening silence...
So, although Archie Yong made this sound a little childish, the fact that he rehashes them year after year (30 times every year in 30 different churches), means that his mission was to remind us of our identity: WE ARE SAINTS. That would also mean that we must ask the Holy Spirit to continue to open our eyes to see His will everyday, to allow us to see His glory, to work in and through our lives.
And, note that we're known as the Church Militant. Not because we're called to burn down temples and beat up believers of other faiths, but rather because we're called to carry the banner of Christ in the world, proclaiming His word, expanding His territory and Kingdom to the ends of the earth through big and small acts of love.
So, when someone says, "hey you, Saint!", please remember to turn around. That's our true identity.
Rhino5
And if you are thinking, "why in heaven's name should All Saints' Day be a happy occasion for me?" then you're not alone. Both Jude and Hsien Li sent sms-es today greeting all a happy feast day, and my immediate reaction to both was "huh?". However upon further reflection and introspection, i realised again the significance of today. Since I'm supposed to start working on my essay in 20 mins, I shall do this as succintly as I can.
The reasons for rejoicing in today's feast are as follows:
1. We were made in God's image and likeness. Therefore we are Saints.
2. We are His Saints on earth. (3 entities of the God's ppl: Church triumphant (Saints in heaven), Church Militant (us), Church Suffering (purgatory))
3. Rejoicing in union with the Saints in heaven.
I remember Archbishop (Emeritus) Gregory Yong's sermons in EVERY confirmation mass he instituted (bcos he always rehashes them!)... He always asks "are we saints?" and as usual there's a deafening silence from the confirmands, when he demands an answer by placing his cupped hand over his ear. Then he'll say, "we don't answer because we're aware of sin in our lives. But the Holy Spirit is the Saint-maker. Do we have the Holy Spirit?" Another deafening silence...
So, although Archie Yong made this sound a little childish, the fact that he rehashes them year after year (30 times every year in 30 different churches), means that his mission was to remind us of our identity: WE ARE SAINTS. That would also mean that we must ask the Holy Spirit to continue to open our eyes to see His will everyday, to allow us to see His glory, to work in and through our lives.
And, note that we're known as the Church Militant. Not because we're called to burn down temples and beat up believers of other faiths, but rather because we're called to carry the banner of Christ in the world, proclaiming His word, expanding His territory and Kingdom to the ends of the earth through big and small acts of love.
So, when someone says, "hey you, Saint!", please remember to turn around. That's our true identity.
Rhino5
posted by Rhino for God! at 12:44 PM
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