October 17, 2015 - Saturday

As it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” [Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” (Romans 4:17-18 NABRE)

Nothing is impossible with God. Abraham was an old man, yet he became father to many nations, indeed a spiritual father to us all, because he believed.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, which is part of God's Word, recognizes it was this faith of Abraham, more than anything else, which pleased God.

And so we have these role models, these older brothers, these spiritual parents, these people we name as saints. They show us how to live in such a way that God is first. They are not blind fools who believe in a man-made deity, who believe in a fairy tale, or who seek imaginary comfort in sadness. Not at all! They experienced God first-hand! They are changed by their experience and cannot deny what they know and remember. They are witnesses throughout time and in all sorts of different circumstances.

We have Abraham. We have Peter and Paul. We have Ignatius of Antioch. We have John Paul II. And this Sunday, we will add the first married couple to be canonized together, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux (October 1), Louis Martin (1823-1894) and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin (1831-1877). We have so many role models, so many older sisters and brothers to look up to. And they all point us to the truth which they knew first by faith and then by experience.

And we are today's saints! We confess our faith. We experience God in our days. We struggle in peace. We share our stories. We endure in joy. We change hearts by example. We pray with confidence. We love by deciding.


Today, I will be a saint, a role model, confessing my faith and sharing my experience of God with others. I ask in prayer that you join me!


Saint Ignatius of Antioch, first century bishop who wrote seven letters (including a letter to the Romans) on his way to Rome to face his martyrdom in 107 AD, pray for us.