Today we celebrate the holy hierarch and wonderworker, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. We remember this saint of God, as we do for all the saints commemorated in the church calendar, to give thanks to God for their life and ministry and example; and we should also be reminding ourselves of what is possible in our own lives – that is, we need to remember that we are not different in our being from the saints, except for the ways in which we choose to live.
The time of the saints is not “long ago and far away.” There are saints of all kinds in every age, in all places. We need look no farther than St. John to realize this is true. He reposed in the lord on July 2, 1966 – and many of us were already born at that time; while others who were not are still only a few years removed from the life of this holy man. The Holy Spirit of God is present and active today, as He has been since the day of Pentecost, to enlighten the faithful and lead us into all truth, and closer to God. St. John proves this, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
St. John lived a deeply ascetic life. He did not permit himself to sleep in a bed. Instead, he rested for a few hours while sitting; or fell asleep while prostrate in prayer. He ate only once a day; and during Great Lent, he did not eat at all during the first and last weeks. When he did eat during Great Lent, he ate only the bread that had been blessed in the altar, and some water. He spent hours in prayer. He gave away the money and possessions that had been given to him. He visited the sick. He cared for the widows and the orphans. He went to the Divine Liturgy every day, and received the holy Mysteries of our Lord’s Body and Blood every day. Is it any wonder, then, that he was able to serve God, and to care for the people God entrusted to him, with healings and other miraculous powers?
Not all of us are able to achieve the ascetic life of St. John, for not all of us are called to do so. But we are called to do all we have been given strength to do in our own ascetic struggles. We should be careful about the comforts we desire, for we pursue what we desire – and our flesh wants to be fed and comforted and pampered. We all can do more in prayer than most of us manage to achieve. We can all do more in charitable works, and in charitable giving. We can all do more to worship God, and to love and care for His people, and to make His presence known to those who still dwell in darkness, and in the shadow of death. None of us may ever reach the ascetic heights that St. John attained; but if we will follow his example, and require more of ourselves, we will honor his holy memory; and we also will become better servants of God.
Brothers and sisters, called to be saints: Let us magnify our holy father, the hierarch and wonderworker, John of Shanghai and San Francisco. Let us live according to his example; to the glory of God, and the salvation of souls.
Holy hierarch, Father John, pray to God for us!
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