In the Church calendar, we celebrated All Saints Day on November 1st. Often, when people think of the saints – they think of the people who did marvellous things; people who God spoke to and required amazing things from. They are also associated with miracles. My home parish church is named after St. John the Evangelist – one of Jesus’s disciples. Driving back from PEI this fall through Quebec I was struck by how many, if not most, towns and villages in Quebec are named after a saint.
My favourite Saint in Quebec is St. Louis du Ha! HA!
He must have been a very joyful Saint. I am surprized that the very
secular government in Quebec hasn’t changed the names to non- religious
ones. I guess that is a step too far for even the PQ government.
However, there are other saints that we acknowledge and
celebrate in Chirstian life – you could all these Everyday Saints. They
are the ordinary Christians who do ordinary things, small things - and
sometimes not so small things - which make the world a better place. They
volunteer to help make lives more liveable. They do acts of kindness that
have ripple effects that are not measurable – like a small stone thrown in a
lake which ripples out beyond the horizon.
I invite you to think of someone who you consider an
Everyday Saint. Think of what it was about that person that brought
him or her to mind. Give thanks for that person and see how they can be
an example to you – a model in your life. Give thanks that they were or
are a part of your life. Give thanks that you had the opportunity to know
them. Give thanks that they are a blessing to you. I give thanks
for all the Everyday Saints that have made my life better and inspired me to be
a better person.
Give thanks to God in all things.
