A few days ago, in the catechetical meetings in the parish, we recalled how our faith has not arisen in us by spontaneous generation, but it has been thanks to certain people around us that we have come to know the God of Jesus of Nazareth. The end of the year always invites us to take stock of the period we are finishing and in this one we cannot leave aside the grateful memory of all those who have been companions along the way during these months, especially those who, in one way or another, have left a special mark on him.
The end of the year always invites us to take stock of the period we have just ended.
In the last few weeks, shopping malls and businesses have reminded us that this time of the year has come again, when death seems to come to the forefront. Of course, as it happens with many other celebrations, we have been left with the most showy and commercial and often we do not take into account the meaning behind the origin of these celebrations, a meaning that each culture expresses from its own richness.
It is interesting to remember that one of the possible origins of today’s Halloween goes back to traditions in Ireland and Scotland around the feast of All Saints (in fact, that’s where the name comes from). After a few centuries, however, what we are left with is little more than an excuse to have a good time doing something different.
As Christians, we know that death does not have the last word, for it has been defeated by Christ in his resurrection.
However, nothing detracts from the fact that, just as it happens to us when we go through our personal history again in our hearts, it is very important and very beneficial for us not to forget those people who have been – and probably continue to be – a light on the path of each one of us with their testimony of life and who, regardless of whether or not they have been declared saints by the Church, we recognize that they have allowed God to work in their lives.
As Christians, we know that death does not have the last word, for it has been conquered by Christ in his resurrection, so scares or terrifying characters are not exactly the most representative of this reality. Thinking about death, the death of our loved ones and our own death should rather lead us to think about our hope and the One who sustains it.
At the Colegio de Jesús, next to our parish of Our Lady of Loreto, in Barajas, this is the seventh year that we have taken advantage of the excuse of this season to celebrate together the saints – those on the altars and those next door – with gratitude and joy, two traits that are so characteristic of the followers of Jesus.
May we know how to bring, with our lives, Life to others!
Last Friday we had the long awaited Holywins, an evening and vigil with games, sharing and prayer, accompanied by a group of saints, some close to us – like the patron saint of Madrid, St. Isidro Labrador – and others that most of those present had probably never heard of before – like St. Kateri Tekawitha, the first Native American saint. The catechists and about 160 elementary school children spent the evening enjoying together and celebrating Life with a capital “L” and the lives of those who in their daily lives have been able to communicate it to us. May we all be called to bring, with our lives, Life to others!