THE WORD AND THE SAINT
September 23, 2019: Remembering Padre Pio
Ezra 1:1-6; Luke 8:16-18
Today we come across an event which seemed messianic for the people of Israel, in fact it is said that they began to look at King Cyrus as the promised messiah, as he gave them the long desired liberty and came forward to build their ruined temple. The message the Word has today is loud and clear - your history and geography has nothing much to decide when it comes to what kind of a person you would want to be. Neither can we write a person off because he or she does not belong to the category we expect that person to be, nor can we escape our divine call citing our background and where we belong! When the Lord calls you, the Lord calls you with all your history and geography!
Being the light of the nations was a collective call given to the people through the prophets; it was also the Christian identity according to Christ - the same Jesus who proclaimed, "I am the Light of the World" (Jn 9:5), commissions us, "you are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14) and "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Mt 5:16). Holiness, the light to this world, is not about what some people have to achieve, but what every child of God has to be.
St. Pius of Pietrelcina or fondly and popularly known as PADRE PIO, whom we remember today is a prodigy in holiness belonging to our times - a shining light today bringing so many people to glorify the Lord. It is said, he would get upset with those who made their confession to him, but without true sense of conversion in their heart. He knew that holiness, though it is called to shine as a light, lies in that secret of the heart known only to God and the person. Let us be filled with the Light, and let our light shine and reach out - to brighten the lives of people in gloom and warm the hearts of persons who have grown cold!
Ezra 1:1-6; Luke 8:16-18
Being the light of the nations was a collective call given to the people through the prophets; it was also the Christian identity according to Christ - the same Jesus who proclaimed, "I am the Light of the World" (Jn 9:5), commissions us, "you are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14) and "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Mt 5:16). Holiness, the light to this world, is not about what some people have to achieve, but what every child of God has to be.
St. Pius of Pietrelcina or fondly and popularly known as PADRE PIO, whom we remember today is a prodigy in holiness belonging to our times - a shining light today bringing so many people to glorify the Lord. It is said, he would get upset with those who made their confession to him, but without true sense of conversion in their heart. He knew that holiness, though it is called to shine as a light, lies in that secret of the heart known only to God and the person. Let us be filled with the Light, and let our light shine and reach out - to brighten the lives of people in gloom and warm the hearts of persons who have grown cold!