Lectio — Blessed Are the Saints
“Blessed are the…” — Matthew 5:1–12
On this Solemnity of All Saints, I hear Jesus proclaim the Beatitudes, not as a list of qualifications for the fortunate, but as a promise to the poor in spirit, the mournful, the merciful, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are they, not because they have escaped suffering, but because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them. I wonder whether I might yet be counted among that great multitude which no one could count.
Meditatio — A Dimmed Light Can Still Be Blessed
Here at The Glenn, on All Saints Day, I continue reflecting on Bishop Zurek’s pastoral letter, A Reflection on Christian Life. In its fourth paragraph, he writes that Christians are called to be the light of the world, yet “a few” have allowed secular influences to dominate their lives, causing their light to dim. I acknowledge that I am among those he described as “a few.” At my only meeting with Bishop Zurek, he went so far as to tell me I was of Satan. Those words remain painful, particularly as I long to be among the blessed saints.
Yet I must ask whether my light was dimmed by secularism or by the burden of what Bishop Zurek himself called a “serious mistake.”
Yesterday, I completed my Safe Environment Training, which reinforced my understanding of the responsibility to bring concerns about abuse within the Church forward.
I believed I was doing precisely what Bishop Yanta had commissioned me to do: keep speaking out. But being convinced of my conscience does not exempt me from examining it. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, not those who presume themselves righteous.
“Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.” I want to belong to that people, that great multitude standing before the Lamb.
Saint John reminds me that everyone who places hope in Christ seeks purification. Perhaps holiness begins not when I have proved myself right, but when I allow Christ to purify even my righteous anger.
I am burdened, and I hear his invitation to come and find rest. I share Bishop Zurek’s hope that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Blessed be that light, even when it exposes uncomfortable truths about the Church and myself.
Oratio — Blessed Be Your Light
Lord Jesus, you call the poor in spirit blessed, the mournful blessed, and those persecuted for righteousness blessed. I do not ask you to declare me innocent of every fault, but to make me holy. Purify my conscience, temper my words with mercy, and preserve my courage to speak truth in love. Where my light has dimmed, rekindle it. Where pride has entered, humble me. Where wounds remain, heal me. Let me seek your face rather than my own vindication, until I stand among your blessed saints. Amen.
Contemplatio — Blessed Is the Human Person
Paragraph 152 of Magnifica humanitas reminds me that technological progress must never reduce human beings to instruments of efficiency or profit. Human dignity and the common good must remain paramount. This speaks to my present circumstances in the Church. Just as workers must never become expendable in the pursuit of productivity, neither should the gifts, labor, or dignity of any baptized person be reduced to a question of institutional convenience.
Yet I must apply this principle equally to Bishop Zurek, those with whom I disagree, and myself. None of us is merely an obstacle to be removed or an argument to be won. Each is a person called to holiness. The saints were not manufactured by perfect systems, nor were they necessarily rewarded by the institutions of their day. They became blessed through grace, fidelity, repentance, and love. Perhaps my greatest work at The Glenn is not to secure recognition of my righteousness, but to cooperate with the grace that makes sinners saints.
Actio — Living Among the Blessed
Today I will continue examining my conscience as I await written clarification of my ministerial status in the Diocese of Amarillo. I will not abandon my responsibility to speak about safeguarding children, but neither will I allow disagreement to extinguish charity. Inspired by Laudato Si’, I will care for the creatures entrusted to me at The Glenn, remembering
The world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration: in the bread of the Eucharist, “creation is projected towards divinization, towards the holy wedding feast, towards unification with the Creator himself”.
Paragraph 236
In the spirit of Synodality, I will seek dialogue rather than victory, listening as carefully as I hope to be heard. Blessed are the peacemakers; today I will try to become one.
Song Pairing — When the Saints Go Marching In
“When the Saints Go Marching In” — Traditional Spiritual. This joyful song expresses my hope of joining the blessed multitude. It reminds me that sainthood is not an exclusive honor reserved for those whom earthly authorities approve, but a heavenly calling to which God’s mercy invites every soul.
Movie Pairing — Babette’s Feast (1987)
Babette’s Feast portrays grace transforming a community constrained by old grievances and rigid expectations. Babette’s extraordinary gift becomes an act of sacrificial love that restores fellowship. I see in her feast an image of the heavenly banquet, where the blessed are gathered not by their accomplishments, but through generosity, forgiveness, and grace.
Poetic Reflection — Blessed
Blessed the heart whose light grows dim,
Yet turns again its face to Him.
Blessed the voice that speaks with care,
And learns that mercy must be there.
Blessed the wounds that grace can mend,
The restless soul who seeks a friend.
When saints assemble, may I see
That love, not pride, has blessed me.
