Put On Christ

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for All Saints Day 2016

Years ago, we began having students at our parish school dress up like saints of their choosing in anticipation of All Saints Day. It was a more worthwhile learning experience than dressing up as superheroes and cartoon characters for Halloween. You would have those would bring aluminum swords as St. Michael, bottles of water so they could try to baptize everyone like John the Baptist, and rubber snakes to drive out of Ireland like St. Patrick. The most creative might come to school covered in ash for St. Joan of Arc, or with fake eyeballs on a plate for St. Lucy.

For a day, they put on the dress and persona of a saint that had gone before us in faith. It was a learning experience, but also an exercise in spirituality. What attributes of the saint could they try to incorporate into their life? What kind of example were they to us all in our Christian walk?

As Christians, the fact is that everyday we put on Christ and should be walking around as imitators of our Lord. To be Christian is not to just be like Christ. We are called to be Christ to a world that needs to hear the Good News.

A stewardship way of life serves as an example to others of the transformative power of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that we live in such a way that those around no longer see us, but instead, Jesus. This is not costume contest or an opportunity for a school party. This is real life. Let us put on Christ each and every day and boldly play the role of a lifetime.