Living in Tense Times: With a Clear Identity

In the past, many have seen a saint as someone whose exceptional holiness is something you should venerate and even call upon in times of trouble. Saints were viewed with admiration and respect—a source of inspiration and help for the rest. Today, saints are more of an after-thought. While some still look to them in those old ways, most think of saints as a mythical concept—far beyond us. Today’s readings put the saints in their proper place. In John’s vision in Revelation, we see the saints in heaven. They are people gathered from every nation and language who serve God before his throne. This is the future glory we all yearn for. But Jesus shows us that the path to this place is filled with hardships. Yet our suffering is not what makes a person a saint. 1st John speaks of the love of God lavished upon us that makes us his own children. Being a saint in God’s eyes is never the result of striving to be like God or drawing close to him. We are made saints by God drawing near to us and making us like him.