The Irish poet John O’Donohue writes this intriguing sentence: “The horizon is in the well.” The horizon is that beautiful far-off distant view to which we often look when searching for ultimate answers. But rarely do those answers come. The well, on the other hand, is that deep inner depth of our spirit that we tend to avoid for fear that we will find nothing there. But the truth is otherwise. For each of us is a precious mystery of life with our own unique character, personality and spirit -- each with our own special and valuable story to tell.
When Jesus stood before the crowds to preach, he did not tell them to go searching over some distant rainbow in order to find answers to life’s mysteries and challenges. He reminded them of how blessed, how precious, they already are if they only have eyes to see. He saw his ministry as one of opening our eyes to the beauty of our own self and to the grace that lives deep within us, a grace just waiting to be stirred into life. It is when the look of love falls upon us that the grace within us begins to flower. It is then that we can grasp just has truly lovely we really us. In the end, it is love –the love of God in Christ—that brings the grace within us to life!
What we will be in the future we do not yet fully know, but one thing is clear already. The more we look upon the face of Christ, the more we will come to resemble him in both his tender love of God and in his foot-washing love of others. We will then be like him, able to say of ourselves what St. Paul once said of himself: “I live now, not I. Christ lives in me!” Such was the case of every saint whom we honor on this day, both those on the official calendar of saints and those countless other men, women and children who have gone on before us and whose holiness only God knows. They too are saints. And because of the grace that is already ours, we too hope one day to be among their number.
One great saint once expressed the relationship between the grace in which we now live and the glory to which we are called in hope in this way: “What is grace but glory in exile? And what is glory but grace in its homeland?” St. Francis de Sales expressed something similar in this way: “The saints were once what we are now.” The saints were once mothers and fathers, friends and spouses, children and siblings; they too were doctors, lawyers, soldiers, government employees, housewives and every other relationship, profession or life circumstance.
Following the good advice of St. Francis de Sales, to one day join the ranks of the saints in glory, let us, now, “be what we are and be that well!”
By hopeful anticipation, then, the feast of All Saints in our feast day as well. During these dreaded months of pandemic, isolation, and depravation of all sorts, may we find comfort in this most beautiful and hopeful of Christian feasts!
God be Praised!
Gratefully,
V. Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
This reflection originally appeared in DeSales Weekly, the e-newsletter of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
To receive DeSales Weekly, click Subscribe Here.
To see previous DeSales Weekly’s, click here.
For comments or suggestions about DeSales Weekly, contact the editor, Fr. Bill McCandless, OSFS
