Met any good saints today?

At NYMO we have been thinking about saints.  Neil optimistically put up a sheet of paper entitled ‘Reasons why Neil should be made a saint…’.  So far all that is written is ‘he is the cause of the team developing patience, charity & self-restraint’!

I once went to a conference where we considered how Daniel faced the lion’s den with great confidence in God, ready to face whatever happened.   We were asked to identify someone who was so close to God they could face any challenge with the confidence of Daniel.  I thought of an elderly lady called Eve who was totally devoted to God and doing his will.  Afterwards I told Eve I had chosen her to go in my ‘lions den’ and she was amazed.  That’s the thing with saints, they don’t even realize the influence they have on others, or think they are in any way remarkable.

Perhaps you know someone who is so close to God that prayer is as natural as breathing? Or someone who knows their Bible so well they are full of knowledge, yet humble enough to listen and encourage you in your faith?  Or someone who walks so closely with God that they seem to glow!  Or one who is always ready to listen to people’s problems, never showing boredom or irritation just love and compassion.  I can think of a lady in her 70’s who after my accident cooked us a casserole big enough to last 3 days, not just once, but every week for 16 weeks!

I know several saints in my parish.  Who do you know?  What is it about them that makes them so special, so holy?  And, more importantly, how can we grow to be like them?  Let’s aim high – to live our lives in such a way that we will be as ‘saints’ to others.  And if you can add to Neil’s list….

Pam, November 2008