At “Open Doors” on Sunday 14th June our Junior Church at Holy Cross acted out a little playlet, written by Rhian Cottrell (thank you Rhian!) and jolly good they were too. It was an interview with Thomas, Peter, James and John with a film crew and a walk on part for a splendidly grumpy Martha moaning about all the work she had to do. Peter was big and brave, but admitted he’d run away when things got tough, Thomas aired his doubts and James and John admitted to trying to get the best seats in Heaven.

It was a reminder that, even though they were all called by Jesus, lived in close proximity to him, they were still only too human and fallible.

July is full of Saints’ Days – including St. Thomas (3rd July), St. Mary Magdalene (22nd July), St. James (25th July) and St Martha (29th July). Others include great monastic saints like St. Benedict (who founded the Benedictine Order; July 11th): and the Franciscan Friar St. Bonaventure (July 15th).

More obscurely, perhaps, are St. Augustine Zhoa Rong (July 9th), (martyred in China) and St.Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14th – Native American of the Mohawk Tribe.

All of these may seem grand and perhaps distant, but the reality is that they were all women and men living in very different times and places, fallible, frail and very human, yet despite their weakness and even brokenness, they witnessed powerfully to the transforming power of the Christian Faith. The Saints are faithful Christians and support us on our own faith journeys through their continual prayers and their example. In New Testament times, all the members of the church community were called “the Saints” (“Sancti” – “holy ones”) (That’ s how St. Paul sends his greetings to his church communities in his letters). It is a reminder to us all that each of us, however fallible and broken, is called to be a saint. We can but try!

Love Fr. John