God Wants us to Become Saints

Rev. Dr. C. O. Vargis

 A summary of the speech given at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Houston TX  on Nov 10

Why do we remember saints? Some of the churches think that it is not a right practice. However, we, the Orthodox Church, has always remembered our saints.  

We remember our saints because they are like our parents for us. They prayed for us, led us, taught us the right way of life, and were our role models. Do we ever forget our parents? Then how can we forget our spiritual parents.  

When we remember them, we take the challenge of living a life that they lived on the earth. We make a commitment to follow their footprints they left behind them.  It is not enough to pray to them or pray for them, but we need to live like them.   

It is not enough that we celebrate this day remembering Parumala thirumeni. We need to make a commitment to live like him. Parumala thirumeni likes to see us living a saintly life. God wants us to become saints.  

Parumala thirumeni was a man of prayer. He walked among men as a man of God. He saw every human being as a child of God irrespective of their caste or creed or race. He could forgive everyone because he believed in a God who forgives and loves all people.  

The prayers we use in our worship were the prayers prayed by the saints. If we really take the time to understand those prayers, and if those prayers rise from our hearts instead of from our lips, we will be transformed.

Summary written by John Kunnathu