What are you longing for?
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. (Psalms 24:6)
If you were asked “What are you longing for?”, what would be your answer? I guess many people would probably respond “I long to be happy.” What do they actually mean by being happy? Is it the emotional feeling that life is good, getting the good stuff, like pleasure, or getting the things we want, like financial security or good health or satisfying relationship? Or is it the happiness that Jesus talks about in The Beatitudes: happy are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness… (Matthew 5:3-12) Saint Augustine’s famous passage from Confessions (Lib 1,1-2,2.5,5: CSEL 33, 1-5) in which he states “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Yes, we are made for God and our objective in life is to please God. He is the source of inspiration and perfection. If God is the only focus of our attention, then everything we do and say should be a reflection of God who we love. This what the Saints did in life. They all have one thing in common which is to to please God. As Servant of God Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary, wrote “What a Saint is this: One who, with the object of pleasing God, does his ordinary duties extraordinarily well.” When St. John Newman was asked how is one to be holy and perfect?, this is what he said “ If you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first- Do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; say the Rosary well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.” If this what it took for John Newman to be a Saints, definitely there is high hope for you and for me.
Let us never give up in pleasing God and performing our ordinary duties
extraordinarily well today.
May all the Angels and Saint intercede for us all.
Happy All Saints!
Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent Vuong Nguyen
P.S.
You are invited to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and All Souls with us:
+ All Saints Day Wednesday, November 1 - Holy Day Obligation: Masses (8:30 AM & 6:30 PM in the Church)
+ All Souls Thursday, November 2: Mass at 8:30 am
+ Taize Prayer Service November 3: (7:00 PM in the Church), an evening of song, prayer, adoration and silent meditation as we remember all those who have entered eternal life. Please bring one or more self-contained candles and write on the candle the name(s) of friends and loved ones who have died.