Formula for Sainthood

This Sunday is a very special one -- All Saints' Day. In the gospel reading of today that is, Mt 5:1-12, our Lord Jesus gives the formula for sanctity which in this context also means, true and lasting happiness (beatitudes!): poverty of spirit (humility), acceptance of suffering, meekness, search for justice, being compassionate, being pure of heart, peace-making, long-suffering in face of persecution for the sake of Jesus. Some of these refer to "accepting what is done to us"; others to "doing something on our part...". Whatever it is, the challenge is aspiring for and practicing positive attitudes, being "pro-active" or in other words, imitating, following Jesus.
Years ago, I also had this insight, a kind of a formula for sanctity modelled on Einstein's mass-energy equivalence: E=mc squared, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light in a vacuum. My formula for sanctity is something like it: S=mS squared, where S is Sanctity, m is my contribution (or positive attitude/action) multiplied by S or the square of the Holy Spirit's power, which is constant.
I believe that no matter how little our action (or positive attitude/contribution) to a life-situation may be, if we sincerely allow the Holy Spirit to purify and sanctify it, we can gradually move towards becoming authentic disciples of Jesus, children of God, as we are designed and destined to be.

Happy All Saints' Day!

New "School Prayer"

Ages ago, as a child, I used to recite this as my night prayer:

"Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
There are four corners at my bed
There are four angels at my head.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
bless the bed that I lie on."

Lately, one of my sisters forwarded me a prayer-poem which gives me an insight how "far we have come" and how troubled and worrying the social situation of our young people. Here's a copy of a kid's prayer. It's called New Pledge of Allegiance, purportedly written by a 15 yr. old school kid in Ohio, as reaction to or reflection on the fact that the Pledge of Allegiance & The Lord’s Prayer are not allowed in schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned.

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom thing.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

We can carry smut, but not the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen.