The Call to Sainthood
“The Cross of St. Cuthbert” by George and Polly Capps
The Call to Sainthood
By Catherine Richthammer
Life in a preschool classroom brings lots of fun and time for reflection. Last week my fellow teacher asked the students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Without hesitation, the five-year-old boy in the front yelled out, “Myself!”
How much of life is spent in the quest for self-discovery? Who am I? What am I here for? The world with its false promises has many answers. It wants to define us by status, likes, ability. So often our distress comes when we forget who we truly are beloved children of God. We chase the world and look to others to define us so we can feel that we fit in and belong. Yet, at the core we are God’s children. The only one who can tell us who we truly are is Our Heavenly Father, Who loves us beyond our understanding or comprehension.
The saints inspire us because they lived God’s call for their lives. They rested in His love and found their identity in Him. With God’s help, they transformed their hearts and became who God made them to be. They did not see those around them as projects but saw the inherent worth and dignity of each person. They were not afraid to call those around them to greatness.
The time of Lent provides us with an opportunity to learn who we truly are. It challenges us to place ourselves in God’s hands and let Him transform our hearts. By letting go of the shackles that weigh us down, our passions, our desires, the expectations of others, we allow ourselves to be opened to the beauty of repentance and restoration of our identity and relationship with Christ. Instead of chasing after likes, worldly fame, or the approval of others, may we spend this Lent listening to God’s voice calling us His beloved children. May we never search to be anyone but our true selves. God is calling you to be a saint. Are you ready to follow?
Book suggestion for recognizing you are beloved: Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
Catherine Richthammer loves to connect to others through story-telling and sharing her Catholic faith. She currently works as a preschool aide and enjoys singing at church.
George Capps and Polly Capps Paule are a brother-sister team of fine artists dedicated to creating original sacred artwork in the classical tradition for churches, educational institutions, and private chapels.