(In worship a few Sundays back, the *Triple Praise Thanksgiving for the Table—written by liturgical poet Gail Ramshaw—included the phrase, “The saints pull us into their presence.” Today, some reflections sparked by those words.)
Ramshaw evoked the picture of saints—now living in the glories of Heaven—going about their daily work. (“What do saints do now?” I wondered.) In some parts of Christian thought, they intercede on our behalf. In other mindsets, these exemplary followers of Christ spend their time praising God. She had another idea: These wonderful people take up the evangelical task of drawing others toward them. Not for their own reputations, but for the benefit of those who are attracted to the witness of their lives.
Knowing that “attract” can be a weak verb, Ramshaw pictures saints’ appeal as something stronger, something attention-worthy and motivating. As in, “I’d like to be around people like that.” So I might imagine myself spending time with St. Augustine of Hippo, talking about his adult conversion or his skills in rhetoric. Or I might join the group clustered around Hildegarde of Bingen and chat about her letter-writing ministry.
What might pull me in the direction of these—and other—saints? Similarities, however faint, among us. Places where I could learn from the ways they patched around difficulties, outsmarted critics or remained resolute. Another pull: Finding out what made them tick, from their earlier to their later years.
The saints of ancient days are not the only ones who pull me towards their witness. All through my life, I’ve been drawn into the presence of saintly mentors, teachers, companions and colleagues. None of them thought of themselves as especially extraordinary, which added to the captivating power of their witness.
To finish these thoughts, some of you reading these words are among those saints right now! Together, we can draw others toward the ultimate presence: Jesus Christ!
That’s part of what it means to be a saint, hmm…?
*From Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collective of Litanies, Laments and Thanksgivings at the Font and Table. (Copyright © 2017, Augsburg Fortress)
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