Next radio spot: Thursday at 7:25 am eastern

Dear friends, happy Sunday! And, I am happy to share you can catch me this Thursday, May 26 at 7:25 am eastern on Relevant Radio. I’ll be talking with John Harper on Morning Air about all the newest saints - who they are, and why they matter to us and the human family. You can listen live in the player here or find your radio station here.

Meet the newest saints!

Our Sunday Visitor has a great post up, Meet the Church’s newest saints. It says:

“On May 15, for the first time since October 2019, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Peter’s Square will host a canonization. This gap of two-and-a-half years (canonizations at the Vatican under Pope Francis typically happened at least once a year) was punctuated only by the pontiff in 2021 when he named Italian Third Order Dominican Margaret of Castello, patroness of persons with disabilities, a saint by way of the process known as equivalent canonization.

And so, the upcoming canonizations to be declared by Pope Francis is a rather historic occasion — and a joyful one, both in the wake of the difficulties of the pandemic and, now, in the midst of war in Ukraine. Ten saints will be declared, which will bring the total of 909 saints canonized in the pontificate of Pope Francis. The group of new saints is comprised mostly of priests and women religious, including just one member of the secular lay faithful.”

First, how joyful! These saints could become very important to you, or to your children, or you may attend a church in the future named after them. It is like meeting new family members, and here they are!

Second, as the article points out, there is only one lay person in the group. I often look for lay people in the saints, because it is important to know that not just nuns, priests, and other religious figures become saints. So, I wonder, are they like me?

In this case, the lay person being canonized is also the first Indian lay person to be canonized. St. Devasahayam Pillai held an important role in state affairs, was a convert from Hinduism, and brought his family into the faith by virtue of his witness. And, unfortunately, none of this went down well with his contemporaries. Or perhaps fortunately, because by his martyrdom he became a saint.

The article includes the detail that the name he took upon his conversion, Devasahayam, means Lazarus. Very nice.

So, Saint Devasahayam Pillai, and all those who will join the great cloud of witnesses of the saints on May 15, pray for us! And, praise God that things like canonizations can once again resume.

What can we do to accomplish the works of God?

First, readers, happy Easter! I hope your celebration of the risen Lord was, and is, good. Because it’s still Easter!

This week, I am thinking about the words in Monday’s Gospel. The entire reading is John 6:22-29. The line that struck me, though, is right at the end:

So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

I must have missed this bit of Scripture in the past, as I do not remember Jesus ever literally saying that believing in him was a work of God.

Now why is this so interesting? Because there is a tendency in the spiritual life to believe that one’s value equates to one’s output or productivity. I think it’s just easier to understand; we know that loving our neighbor and the poor, etc., is also a way to love God and do his “works,” and they’re tangible. Feeding the poor is quite literally accomplishing the works of God. But just believing? Interesting.

I was reminded of something someone told me recently: she reminded me that Jesus came so that we might have “life abundantly.” He did not come so we could take on a to-do list for him.

I am not talking about the “you are saved by works vs. faith alone” debate - that is not of interest to me. I am interested in the concept that, while feeding the poor (and all the other works of mercy) are often difficult, I wonder if it is just as difficult to - believe. Just simply believe, and that is it, not augmented by those works which are a good and necessary expression, but probably not as fundamental as belief.

What stands in the way of belief? Do works become a band-aid, so to speak, for lack of belief? Do we always do for others out of true generosity, or is there ever a tinge of competitiveness, or seeking validation?

There are many things that can get in the way of our friendship with God - vices being the obvious choice - but perhaps one of the most sly is not believing. Not believing in the resurrection, yes, or the reality of the Eucharist, okay, but even in God’s unfailing love. That he wants what is best for us, that he has a plan, that our most fundamental identity is “Beloved by God.”

I ask myself, do I believe those things? If not, why not? This is the perfect thing to take into conversation with the Lord, especially at Easter when graces abound.

My first job is to love God, and out of that love, serve others. The love is grounded in belief. If every things seem too complex, or the problems in my own life (or especially the world) too great, I can relax into that truth.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”