. – Ansa
Once upon a time, perhaps we too considered them extraordinary but unattainable men and women. Sometimes, from the height of their greatness, they have intimidated us; other times, however, we have invoked them to receive some benefits. But they remained distant, like the statues and paintings that depicted them in our churches. Beautiful, precious but distant. Flowers and lights placed at their feet as if to ingratiate them.
Instead, they were given to us to be imitated. The saints, our saints, who have underpinned the history of these two thousand years that separate us from Christ, of every language, people and nation. Of all ages, very different from each other.
Not always understood by contemporaries, sometimes even incredibly opposed; other times recognized already in life as authentic friends of God, people who can be trusted. What do the apostle Peter and Blessed Carlo Acutis have in common? Or a man with an excellent mind, like Thomas Aquinas, with Francis and Jacinta, the two naive Portuguese shepherds of the twentieth century? Love for Christ. The saint is a person in relationship. A relationship that slowly becomes exclusive. But – be careful – the more total it becomes, the more it opens up and gives to others the fruits resulting from this original relationship.
What characterizes the life of a saint? Humility. This is, in fact, the key virtue on which all virtues will flourish. Humility makes you free, true, light. The humble person – even if she were rich and powerful – knows well that she is the master of nothing, not even of the moment that follows what he is experiencing. And, he therefore welcomes life as a gift. An incredible, immense, unique, unrepeatable gift from which the pure and fresh water of gratitude flows, like a stream from the rock. Living without being able to say thank you is torment. For everyone, believers and non-believers.
A torment that the saint does not know. It will be this feeling that will open the doors to the magnificent world of amazement. The saint is like a child who runs around on his grandfather’s large farm. He runs along the paths, looks at the flowers, caresses the newborn goat. And he doesn’t stop asking questions. And he never stops chasing lizards and butterflies.
Until, when evening comes, exhausted from tiredness, he throws himself into his mother’s arms. And he tells her the discoveries he has made. And he continues to ask for explanations. Insatiable, he is never satisfied. Once in bed, in his sleep, he continues his raids. Nothing is of him. Everything belongs to him. What a fantastic world he is experiencing. The farmers love him. He thinks he is helping them, but in reality he hinders their work quite a bit. But they play along. His innocence cheers them up. The child discovers things that they, the farmers, busy and tired, can no longer see. He notices the small insects, checks the eggs in the birds’ nest. Nothing is of him.
He feels he is the master of everything.
Lord, grant us to look at the world with the eyes of a child. We will then realize the immense miracle of life. And we will go crazy with pain at the mere thought of hurting anyone. And we will do everything to bring a smile back to the faces of those who cry. And we will feel the need and joy of talking with our brothers, of listening to their stories. And, in turn, we will collect the memories that bind us to childhood to be part of those who join our journey. And we will become friends, giving and asking for help when the days get tough.
Humility. On this day dedicated to our brothers and sisters who look down on us, we invoke the indispensable gift of humility. Even though we own nothing, we will become the masters of everything. The thought that God loves us today drives us crazy. The certainty that, like us, he loves creation and every creature, pushes us to love them and serve them in turn. Without expecting any reward. In fact, the gift received is so great that eternity will not be enough to fully understand and enjoy it.
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