Be a Saint Everywhere

...and let God's light shine through you all the time.

This past Sunday's Gospel was Jesus' explanation that we are the light of the world, and that our light needs to be on a lampstand to light the entire house and not under a basket.

Our pastor started his homily with a story (as he usually does) about a devout man that goes looking for a holy man. He couldn't find him in any church or chapel, but instead finds him in the marketplace. The holy man explains to him that a saint is needed more in the marketplace than in a place of worship.

In other words, I learned at last Sunday's Mass that in order to be the best-version-of-myself, I need to be a constant light of God everywhere I go all the time. Yes, everywhere and all the time.

No pressure, right?

I have to show God's light at Mass, no matter how many people supposedly "don't do it right." I need to be His light at work, despite the fact that many of my co-workers don't understand or appreciate my being Catholic, much less Christianity in general. And yes, I need to be a saint in the marketplace, only today's "marketplace" is that dreaded shopping mall or supermarket.

But I must never forget that I need to shine the Lord's light brightly right here at home, so that my wife and children can radiate God's love wherever they go as well.

Yes, I'm sure that is impossible to be saintly everywhere I go all the time. But you know what? Just putting forth the effort makes me far more of a saint than I ever could be.