Today we read about a sinner turned saint. That's the goal of every human being, or should be. We all start off as sinners (with a couple possible exceptions) and we should all be striving to be saints. We read about St Jerome Emiliani today in the book In Caelo et in Terra.
He was a soldier in the Venetian army, and led a self indulgent life without any cares regarding his faith. WHAT he did isn't so important as the fact that he put his pleasure above his faith, and didn't seek God in his life. That's a good lesson for us, too. WHAT we do when we're away from God is only so important. If we kill someone or have an affair or steal a car, there will probably be consequences in this life. But once we repent of that life and turn to God, what we did before is only so important.
So when you think about the prodigal son... many people want to know WHAT he did. Did he visit prostitutes? Did he kill people? Did he steal and lie and take God's name in vain? We don't know. That's not the point of the story. And that's not the point of YOUR story either. What you and I do when we're away from God is just a waste of time.
What we do - and what St Jerome Emiliani did - when we're WITH God is what will last into eternity.
What St Jerome did was take care of orphans. The Bible tells us that is what true religion really is: to take care of widows and orphans (and to walk humbly with God.) You can read more about him here.
How will you turn away from the things that don't matter, and start doing what He made you for today?
God, thanks for reminding us through this saint that only in serving You will we do what matters. St Jerome Emiliani, pray for us.
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