Last week while I was at the International Conference of War Veteran Ministers, I took this picture at Marywood retreat center. At Halloween time, we make a big deal about the moon and darkness and the colors of orange and black. We would never be able to see the moon without the sun shining on it after she sets beneath the horizon. And we all know that the sun doesn’t set…we simply turn away from her brilliant and life-sustaining warmth and light. So what is a saint? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a saint:

The “holy one” who leads a life in union with God through the grace of Christ and receives the reward of eternal life. The Church is called the communion of saints, of the holy ones.

Without the sun there is no moonlight. Without God there is no “Halloween,” the eve before all “hallowed saints.” Halloween is German for the two words “saint” (hallo) and “evening” (ween). Halloween, therefore, is simply the evening before the feast of All Saints.

St. Bernard, the wonderful abbot wrote about this feast of All Saints:

Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.

Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desireable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs and matriarchs, the ranks of prophets and prophetesses…

Come, brothers and sisters, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness…

Beloved! We are all called to be saints. A saint must be filled with happiness and joy and all the fruit of the Holy Spirit! We must reflect the Light of the Son. Every day and every night must be a day in which we absorb more of the Light of the World and Universe. Look beyond the sunsets and arise for the sunrise…the morning sun. The last three photos were taken on a recent morning. The star fish was rejuvenating a leg it had lost. God loves us so much that our Beloved God will heal, restore and rejuvenate what we need to enter into Eternal Life. Let us truly rejoice with the saints in this world and for millions of years to come.

ALLELUIA!

Have a most blessed and spectacular week!

You ARE God’s BELOVED!!!

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses +

www.tearinthedesert.com

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