Free at last

Mummy passed away peacefully. Will you be coming home ” My sister’s simple WhatsApp message on October 6 informed me of the death of my beloved mother who died as simply as she lived. Flying home from Rome for the last rites, I couldn’t help thinking that my mum was one of the anonymous saints who live among us.

After Diwali, the festival of lights, this week Christians commemorate All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). Additionally, Jesuits celebrate all saints of the Society of Jesus (November 5). I think that saints — those recognised as such, and those unknown — are simple, faithful folk who, by their lives, dispel darkness and destroy death in its many forms.

Normally, men outnumber women in the galaxy of saints. The Bible portrays holy men like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Joseph, as well as women like Sarah, Ruth, Esther and Mary, mother of Jesus. Men are normally busy with duties of the sanctuary and cult, besides being immersed in public affairs. Thus, their role in religion is more likely to be recognised and rewarded. But, since most women silently and selflessly spend themselves in household chores, their heroism largely goes unnoticed.

Everyone is called to sainthood. Religions provide checklists for determining sanctity. For instance, the Gospels contain the “Beatitudes” that depict the blessed as poor in spirit, merciful, humble, pure in heart, peacemakers, etc. Likewise, in his Vaishnava Jana To bhajan 15th century Gujarati poet Narsinh Mehta describes the true Vaishnavite as one who feels the pain of others, helps those in misery, is free from ego-avarice-greed-lust, pure in thought-word-deed, free from attachments, respectful towards all and united to God. Can we not strive to imbibe these virtues

Beyond religions, I’ve met many people who are living saints in the way they help all people, strive for justice, defend the poor and protect Mother Earth. By so doing they dispel darkness and breathe life into situations of despair and death.

Saint Ambrose wrote: “The foolish fear death as the greatest of evils, the wise desire it as a rest after labours and the end of ills.” For my mother, eternal rest was the crowning of a life fully lived, and the cessation of the many sufferings she bravely bore.

Before his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr, requested that at his funeral no mention be made of his achievements, but that it be said that he tried to “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and love and serve humanity”. His tomb bears the words: “Free at last, free at last, Thank God I’m free at last!” May we live the here-and-now fruitfully so as to enjoy full and final freedom. Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com