THE WORD AND THE SAINT
September 23, 2023: Remembering Padre Pio of Pietrelcina1 Timothy 6:13-16; Luke 8:4-15
The times are such that there is so much talk about the end of times... though it is true that every now and then the theme of end of times emerges loud and strong, it cannot be a mere matter of light headed comments. It should set us thinking how important a theme it is, but how flimsily understood and handled. Today Paul speaks of it too, to Timothy.
For all that we may believe, Christ is not going to "come", as if he is not here! He said I am with you always. Christ, who is already here with us, will be revealed in fullness of glory, in God's own time. Till then it is our duty and our call to see and perceive Christ in every person suffering and every person in need; to hear and understand Christ speaking in every cry for justice and every groan in pain.
If we have to behold the Lord when the Lord is fully revealed... we cannot refuse to see; it would not help if we hardly manage to see; and it would not be sufficient if we see but fail to really perceive. We need to live in the presence of God, be conscious of that presence of God and draw inspiration from that presence so much that, we grow in our capacity to see and perceive, to listen and understand, when the Lord is finally revealed in all God's glory!
Padre Pio has been a prophet of our age. A man who who died just 55 years ago and was canonised just around 20 years ago (in 2002)! He is an exceptional witness to the powerful presence of God amidst today. Padre Pio was known for his extraordinary sense of belonging to the Lord, which he wanted to instill in everyone he met - a proactive approach to the so-called end times - ready to see and perceive, listen and understand.