Pastor's Reflection - November 1, 2026

Holiness Is Friendship with God

As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, it is good to remember what the saints teach us. Through God’s grace, they grew in friendship with him, which gave them confidence to face the challenges of discipleship, trusting that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (cf. Romans 8:31).

The name Opus Dei means “Work of God.” St. Josemaría Escrivá understood it not as a tribute to his own achievement, but as a reminder that God was the true author. He saw himself as an instrument, ready to serve and cooperate with what God was doing.

That conviction rests on Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “My Father is always working” (John 5:17). God did not create the world and then withdraw from it. He remains present in human lives and in the ordinary events of each day. We are invited to notice that presence, make room for it, and respond.

This also offers a way to understand holiness. We may imagine that saints are extraordinary people whose achievements are beyond our reach. But holiness is not a display of spiritual prowess or superiority. It is a life open to God, a friendship with him that allows his goodness to become visible through us, even amid weakness and mistakes.

To be holy, then, is not to do everything perfectly or to accomplish great things alone. It is to keep turning toward God, speaking with him as a friend speaks with a friend, and letting him work in our lives. This calling belongs not to a select few, but to everyone.

Such friendship does not draw us away from the world. It gives us courage to meet its challenges in our work, studies, families, and communities. When we place ourselves in God’s hands, we can face the present without fear, trusting that he is still at work and inviting us to take part.

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor