When we are faced with a difficult task, we take courage from the fact others before us got through the same task successfully. The feast of All Saints tells us that the saints were ordinary women and men like ourselves who opened their hearts and lives to the divine love and life that God wishes to share with all of us. They were totally receptive to God’s self giving; there was no holding back. They joyfully allowed themselves to be possessed by God. The fact that they were able to merit heaven should give us hope and confidence that we can also live in the same way. They did not succeed easily. Neither will we. Like them we must try and try again, fall down and stand up and continue till we reach our destination- heaven.