Monday, November 1, 2021

The Call to Holiness

Every Catholic is called to holiness. Nobody is born a saint but anybody can become one, even ordinary human beings like YOU and ME. During All Saints Day, we are reminded of this calling. This is the day we honor ALL saints, whether known or unknown, whether dead or still alive. 

If you have been struggling to be holy, you’re not alone. My own journey to holiness has been challenging, to say the least. But if we try to modify our behavior just a little more pleasant everyday then we are on the right track.

Like instead of cursing the irresponsible driver who suddenly cuts your lane to be struck twice by lightning, you give him your sincere blessings. Or when you want to strangle your rebellious teenager son/daughter, you take deep breaths while counting 1 to 1000 and negotiate without heating steam. Or when your cousin disappears from the face of the earth on the day that he promised to settle his debt, you try to put yourself in his shoes and understand his situation. Or when the fish vendor claims that you haven’t paid her yet, you stay calm and pay her again so as to prevent a bloody brawl in Zapote market. Or when you discover that your husband impregnates one of his younger mistresses, you don’t stab the woman repeatedly in the chest nor force her to have an abortion but instead, accompany her to “Haven”, the National Center for Women in Alabang, Muntinlupa for her to be properly cared for.

Ironically, I have Non-Catholic friends who are “holier” than me (with my war-freak personality, this is not surprising at all). Some are even atheists but they practice “holiness” in their day-to-day activities. So I guess being holy is a choice an individual makes, not because of an organized religion or the lack of it. 

(Thanks for dropping by my blog and sending your comments/reactions via Messenger. You may also email me at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)