If we don’t become saints it will be because, deep down in our hearts, we do not really believe we’ve been called. We may believe it for some others but we see our own hearts too closely and we know we don’t have the goods.

You may look into your heart and see a great deal of pride and bravado—a loud mouth and no action. If so, go and talk it over with St. Peter. He knew what it was to have bravado and self-assurance turned into humble service and real courage.

You may look into your heart and see that you’re on a glory trip in following Jesus, dominated by a "what’s in it for me" attitude. If so, go and talk it over with the sons of thunder, James and John. They too were interested in status and privileges in the kingdom. They know how Jesus can transform glory trips into selfless dedication.

You may look into your heart and see a great attachment to money and material things and believe that God could not possibly use such a heart for anything so great as sanctity. If so, go and talk with St. Matthew.

At one time he was probably planning to spend his whole life counting money he made from collecting taxes. He experienced how Jesus can transform miserliness into a spirit of evangelical poverty.

Perhaps you have spent part of your life (or are even now engaged) in hating God, or inflicting harm on the kingdom of God through ignorance or misguided zeal. If so, go and talk it over with St. Paul. He knows how Jesus forgives ignorance, how the Lord can completely change a person’s life no matter how wrong he might have been.

Or, your faith may be very weak. If so, go and talk it over with St. Thomas. He knows all about it—how Christ can transform doubt and skepticism into an absolute faith that cries, "My Lord and my God!"

The lives of these apostles and of all the saints prove that it’s not our sins and weaknesses which are the dividing line between the saints and non-saints. All the saints were sinners; all the saints were saddled with certain weaknesses.

What is the dividing line, then? More grace? It is true that God is free to give more grace to some than to others, but this is not the determining factor. God wishes each of us to really be holy, to be saints.

The determining factor is that, ultimately, the saints believed more in God’s power and his call than in their own powers and their own vision of life.

If we do not become holy, let’s not rationalize it by saying that "I just wasn’t chosen." You have been chosen! Your sins don’t matter. The question is, do you have the courage to accept and live God’s immense vision of life for you?