Saints Out of Sinners

One of the great wonders of the world is the creation of man out of nothing. Hence man is the crown of creation. But perhaps the greatest among them is the wonder of sinners becoming saints!

This is what the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard had once said. Or something to that effect. Of course, many other Christian philosophers, theologians, and spiritual writers, saints and former sinners themselves, have said so in somewhat similar way. God’s power is truly amazing, not just wonderful. In previous columns, homilies, and public statements I too have said something similar. But my context is different. And the difference is much bigger and wider than the similarity.

An Oratio Imperata or Obligatory Prayer, which I composed and ordered said on bended knees during the Holy Mass, touched many of our people and made quite a positive impact. But it drew a negative comment from a city mayor and a televangelist while the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorialized on its political and Church-State implications.

It was A Prayer For Healing Of Our People. My basis for healing is the fact that we human beings are born with inner goodness. This goodness cannot be erased by sin or crime. And this inborn part of our spiritual and human identity is the basis for healing, mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.

This truth, I have often said, must be the basis of all our many approaches in education, formation, evangelization, inter-religious and intra-religious dialogues. This is the reason for the above statement that personal transformation has a much wider implication because it is applicable to all believers, and therefore to all religions, not just Christianity, in the present situation of the world.

I wrote this column in Rome a few hours before the canonization of Blessed John XIII and Blessed John Paul II. The Church through the Second Vatican Council teaches in Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations, nos. 39-42)  that everyone is called to holiness.

The transforming power of God’s amazing grace which the work of the Holy Spirit is available to all, not just to the popes, bishops, priests and consecrated people. Saint Peter, the first pope, denied Our Lord Jesus three times!  (Lk 22:36-61). Saint Paul ordered the public murder of Saint Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:60). And so on, down the centuries until our time. Humble, repentant sinners/criminals continue to answer the call to sanctity. It only confirms what St. Paul said, “but however much sin increased, grace was always greater (Romans 5:20).

Aside from declaring that capital punishment is not acceptable from the Christian perspective, the also emphasizes the importance and challenge of human, humane and respectful dialogue among people of different faiths and of those within the same religious traditions.

This importance is being pursued and its challenge inspires us and others who are engaged in inter-religious and intra-religious dialogues. What empowers us to do this? I believe it what we call the Christic and Human Peace which we received in baptism and which has flowered into our present vocations and respective status in life.