#relatable Ep8: Gaudete et exsultate

This is part of a 8-part series where I take a closer look at Vatican documents and distill some gems that you can take with you on your own journey to knowing and loving Him.

Last year, I recorded a series on the call to holiness and came across this apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis. I was deeply moved by the call for all to be saints and with the news of the canonisation of "millenial" saints such as Blessed Carlos Acutis, it made me realise that sainthood is for everyone!

I will focus on 3 key areas which touched me deeply and which you may consider for reflection too!

1. THE SAINTS “NEXT DOOR”

Nor need we think only of those already beatified and canonized. The Holy Spirit bestows holiness in abundance among God’s holy and faithful people, for “it has pleased God to make men and women holy and to save them, not as individuals without any bond between them, but rather as a people who might acknowledge him in truth and serve him in holiness”

What I find amazing in this document is the recognition that there are so many saints that are walking in our midst. They are everyday people who have chosen to live out the call that the Lord has for them and their desire for holiness is what sanctifies them! Often we look up to specific men and women and put them on a pedestal, yet the saints are meant to accompany us and not to make us feel that sainthood is unattainable. They are just like each and everyone of us, they are sinners too and in need of a Saviour! The beauty of this phrase reminds me of an image of a few famous saints seated on a couch, ala @pax.valerie which reminds me of the popular sitcom, Friends.

Saints were regular people like you and me, just running towards Heaven! Imagine yourself seated next to them on the couch in Friends, and the distance between us and holiness is no longer a gaping chasm!

2. THE LORD CALLS

“Each in his or her own way” the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. We are all called to be witnesses, but there are many actual ways of bearing witness.

This personal brand of holiness is manifested in the phrase "each in his or her own way" which reminds us not to be discouraged when comparing our own journey towards holiness with that of others. Everyone has a unique path in mind and it may seem that we are being left out when we do not experience the same spiritual highs or we face more difficulties than others. Comparison is rife at every level of society and it has even creeped into our run towards holiness. Rather than give in to these seductive ideas, let us remember that holiness is not about imitation, but rather a unique creation of one's own journey towards holiness. We were not called to measure ourselves against others, we were called to be inspired by their example and to find our own path such that we can build on the unique gifts that He has bestowed on us. No fear, we are all walking on our unique paths, though at some point, let us converge on the narrow road!

3. FOR YOU TOO

Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life (cf. Gal 5:22-23). When you feel the temptation to dwell on your own weakness, raise your eyes to Christ crucified and say: “Lord, I am a poor sinner, but you can work the miracle of making me a little bit better”. In the Church, holy yet made up of sinners, you will find everything you need to grow towards holiness.

We may think that holiness is reserved for the religious or a privileged few and that we are too far gone to be anywhere near sainthood. Yet Pope Francis challenges us not to be carried away with the grand, but to focus on the small gestures and to continue to remain open to Him in any situation. We may think there is no place for God in our secular world and even our daily lives, but in every moment, we make micro decisions in our work or leisure or family life, where we can choose the easier option or we can make the tough decision to love! Human weakness often surfaces in situations where we have to make a conscious choice and there is the temptation to fall into our patterns of behaviour. Yes, we are sinners, but we can also desire for holiness through small acts of kindness, patience, gentleness and love. Do not forget the gifts of the Spirit! They are not just something we pray for or repost on social media come Pentecost. They are real, living gifts that the Spirit desires for us to bring to bear in our everyday lives! This reminds me of the quote by St Therese (the subject of another series on this blog and lowkey my spiritual sister) - "Do small things with great love". We are not measured by the "breadth" of our actions but the love with which we do them. It starts small, and it starts right where we are, in the contexts we find ourselves in.

There is much wisdom to be gleaned from the document and I have only just scratched the surface. I attach a simple Infographic I created that summarises some key points that you might find useful too as you read the document in greater detail, and with prayerfulness.

Here is a link to the document in full: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html

Thank you for coming on this journey with me as we delve deeper into the wisdom of these documents as we start to learn how truly it is #relatable!