Today we recognize that great cloud of witnesses, the many saints who have been perfected by God’s grace.  God desires that all of us achieve this same state of perfection, and has given us the way to do it.

But, in order to be saved, you must want it.  You must devote yourself to it.  It will not happen on its own.  Like anything else worth having, becoming perfect requires practice and hard work.  It is difficult, and without God’s grace, it would be impossible, but we have all of these Saints (point to icons) around us to show us that it can be done, and to support us as we run the race that they have already run well.

And I mean it when I say that it will not happen on its own.  Everyone can be good part of the time; but becoming a saint requires becoming good all the time.  I just don’t see many people willing to take the time this requires:

it is too hard to be charitable regarding the intentions of people whose actions have hurt us [while] it is too easy to assume that our own bad actions were justified by the difficult circumstances that surround us; and we are too lazy to develop the kind of personal and relational habits that will help us become the kind of people God made us to be. 

Let me briefly develop the first of these: we lack charity (for anyone but ourselves).  I do not mean that we do not tithe or offer ourselves in service to others.  This is only a first step.  Charity is a synonym for “love”, and it is the attribute that marks the true Christian.   Would people see this virtue in us?  Here is a quick way to tell: when someone does something that offends or hurts you, what is your reaction?  Is your instinct to get angry; to condemn them for their wickedness?  Perhaps even to strike back or to “get even”?  If so, then you lack charity.  If so, then you are only a part-time Christian: you are only good when it is convenient. 

How should we react when people offend or hurt us?  What is the Christian response?  There are many ways that saints have responded to such things, but none involved hatred or revenge.  My advice is to be charitable regarding their intentions: do not assume that he/she meant to hurt you.  Most offenses and mistakes are caused by inattentiveness, incompetence, and hard choices rather than malice. 

We are very quick to point to the role of circumstances in justifying our own behavior, and yet we usually underestimate its effect in the actions of others.   I suggest that you use this simple rule, and that you start applying it with your spouses, relatives, and friends (you need to learn to apply it to others - to include our enemies - , but let’s work up to that):  if there is a good way and a bad way to interpret their words or actions, pick the good way.  Look for the circumstances that would lead them to make bad decisions.  If you gain their trust, then perhaps (in love) you can help them deal with overcoming their circumstances.  Everyone I know is struggling with something, I am sure the same is true for you: people need our love and support, not our anger.  Lord willing, others will do the same for you.

Good habits will help.  Prayer.  Worship.  Hard work.  Sacrifice.  Putting others before yourself.  It will be difficult and it will take effort.  But races are not won by the lazy, but by those who train hard.  The Crowd of Saints around you wants you to win (can you hear it cheering you on?).  With God’s help, you can.