"It is foolhardy to suppose that this life is the end-all and be-all of our existence."
Every November 1 of the year, Christianity celebrates All Saints’ Day in commemoration of all Christian Saints. The Scripture refers to all the baptized as saints because we are made holy by God’s grace, by inclusion in the mystical body of Christ through the sacrament of baptism. Through baptism we pass "from death to life; death no longer has dominion over us." Since the first century, the church has recognized those Christians who truly embody the Gospel mission of faithfulness to Christ and love of neighbor. Saints who were canonized are held up as a role model for living in Christ and whose entrance into heaven is certain.
Catholics believe in the communion of saints which refer to the spiritual union of the members of the Christian Church, living and the dead, excluding souls who died in enmity with God and therefore are in Hell or Gehenna. Hence, we refer to the three components of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Churches Militant, Penitent, and Triumphant. They are part of the so-called "mystical body," with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.
On this day, we also call to mind the four last things—death, judgment, living, and hell. The certainty of these things compel us to practice virtue in this life, which is merely a passage to an afterlife in union with God or death eternal in the company of the damned. It is foolhardy to suppose that this life is the end-all and be-all of our existence. We come to be for the sole purpose, not of physical sustenance or bodily comfort, but to be in union with God for all eternity and partake of his Divine nature. Because of this, it behoves upon each and everyone of us to exert utmost diligence and perseverance, hoping for God’s infinite mercy, in order to gain salvation in the end.
St. Paul’s exhorts the Philippians: continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, This exhortation may be dismissed by the secular world as a vestige of a bygone era, an overly dramatic statement by the Apostle which is no longer applicable in our time. Yet, the constancy and applicability of these words to our world remain; in fact it is applicable in our time more than ever. But in the midst of all the worldly temptations, God is calling us to become saints, cultivate virtues most pleasing to him. Most often, we fail in this regard and are tempted to indulge in wickedness and misery, but what is good about our God is that he is more than willing to welcome us back, if only we cooperate in his grace. As the saying goes, every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Even the most wretched amongst us is given every chance to return to God’s embrace and follow the path of righteousness he leads us.
In today’s world, the Church’s call to holiness remains a constant clarion call. In his Apostolic ‘Rejoice and Be Glad,’ Pope Francis explains what this call to holiness means—To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.
Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by laboring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain.
Let me take this occasion to give a few words on Senator Aquilino Pimentel or Tatay Nene (in my case because of long-standing family friendships, I called him Tito Nene) as he was fondly called. Nene was a defender of the oppressed and a pillar of our nation. During his prime, he, together with other patriots, fought the Marcos dictatorship, risking life and liberty to free the people from oppression. He spent many years defending human rights victims, and became a stalwart of the Philippine Senate which he served for several terms after the People Power Revolution. We know that Nene Pimentel led a life well lived—courageous, and charitable, never shirking from his civic duty to defend the poor and the oppressed, seizing every opportunity to make this benighted world of ours a better place to live in through his selfless service to his fellowmen. He may not be a canonized saint in the strict sense of the term, for sure he was a politician and made imperfect choices and sometimes made mistakes, but he is more than worthy to be raised in the pantheon of Filipino heroes whom we praise in eternal gratitude.
To Nene Pimentel, may you rest forever in God’s embrace.
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