For the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time…
The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven.
…Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.
1 Corinthians 15:47, 49
St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer patients, and St. Dymphna is the patron of those suffering mental illnesses. On retreat, I shared I hope to be the patron saint of joint replacements. People thought I was joking. But I’ve had three joint replacements, multiple hospital stays and months of physical therapy to mull this over. So, for this titanium hipster, this epistle holds great meaning, as it should for all.
While we all resemble “the first earthly man” with obvious earthly limitations, we believe in the resurrection of the body—thanks to Jesus Christ. So I pray to one day be a saint with a resurrected, glorified body. For we “believe in the true resurrection of this flesh that we now possess” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1017). And while I’m grateful to medical science for prolonging my earthly mobility, my hope in walking through heaven’s gate is greater still.
Dear God, help me to make heaven my priority, to dare to be a saint.
