In November we celebrate two great solemnities which are necessarily part of Christian life. The first day of November is All Saints Day. On that day we remember all those Christians, our ancestors, who as much as we know, have lived a life of holiness and who can be recommended as a model for others. The second day of November, All Souls Day is dedicated to all those “who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith” as the first Eucharistic prayer proclaims. We love to pray often, “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them”. There is a profit in praying for the dead for there is nothing which God cannot do in his mercy. When we pray for the dead we acknowledge our own mortality and need in the “De Profundus”, Out of the depths I cray to you Oh Lord {Ps.130).
November brigs us an opportunity for stardom, a chance to get back on the purpose-driven path, the path of holiness. Jesus makes us an offer: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). He does this so that our achievements do not end simply with material success. How empty, as we have seen, life has been for those who “lived by bread alone”! The saints we celebrate are human beings like us who have strived to attain perfection and that faith has changed their surrounding and society. In our world today, people who seek perfection are very few. If there is so much imperfection in the world we Christians must take our share of the burden. Why not dare to be a star and be perfect too (Rom12:1-2)? Is that not why God made us? The penny Catechism says, “God made us to love him, to know him and to worship him”, in other words to “be holy as your heavenly father is holy” (Leviticus 19:2). This November, examine yourself, O Christian. What is your attitude to perfection? Take the chance and your place in the spiritual hall of fame! Strive for perfection, if for nothing, to celebrate the advent, the Lord’s coming.
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