"Holiness is not a luxury for the few; it is a simple duty because if we learn to love, we learn to be holy." - Mother Teresa

For Mother Teresa, sainthood is accessible to all. She was canonized in Rome on September 4, 2016. All throughout her life, she never ceased working for the poor while traveling the world to bear witness and advocate. 

Matthew 25, 31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did you see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Holiness is the perfection of charity and necessarily implies a dedication to the Christian mission. Thus, this charity goes together with a radical orientation toward the spiritual and material well-being of the others. The Lord calls us to wish and do well onto others, even though they may seem to express only disdain, contempt, and hatred toward humanity, toward God, toward life, and even perhaps toward themselves. Perfection is to put love where there is none. Only love sanctifies.

Prayer

God, merciful Father, send into my heart, so many times tempted by hostility and revenge, your Holy Spirit, that He may ignite my soul with Your charity. Breathe into me a real desire for holiness, and grant me to never cease to do good around me, despite the animosity and the misunderstandings. 

Follow this prayer by one "Our Father," one "Hail Mary," and the daily prayer of Mother Teresa, which can be accessed by clicking on "Pray" below.

Today's little resolution: Today, I will pray specifically for someone who hurt me. 

Artwork: Mother Teresa, by Sachin Parelkar.