Our theme for today is: Holiness.
From our Sunday missal:
“It is the Hebrew genius, under divine guidance, that has related morality expressly to God and religion. Why should human beings be holy? Because God is holy (First Reading). ‘Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect’ (Gospel). ‘You are temple of God…. And the Spirit of God dwells in you …. The temple of God, which you are, is holy’ (Second Reading).
“Christians see their moral lives related to God. It is important to know what God thinks of morality (Morality: beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior). God’s ideas on morality are best reflected in Jesus Christ and what He stands for. ‘He is the image of the invisible God’ (Col 1:15). Imitation of Christ is the best guide for a morally good life!”
From the three Readings plus the usual definition of the word, we can get an idea of what Holiness is to God:
A. Reverence (deep respect) to The Lord, our God: (examples)
• We don’t mention The Lord’s name unnecessarily nor make fun of our or other people’s faith.
• We don’t read the Bible inside the toilet .
• We wear our best on Sunday when we go to Mass. We don’t wear the same clothes as for jogging and going to Mass.
• In passing by a Church, especially with the tabernacle inside, we vow our head facing the altar.
B. Full obedience to His commandments.
C. A prayerful life, characterize by constant communication with The Lord, seeking His will on our decisions.
D. Love of neighbors as ourselves:
• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
• Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. (Leave that to The Lord, or if the case is big enough, for the sake of justice, file a case and leave that to the court of law. Avoid hatred in your heart).
• If someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well.
• If one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles (Go the extra mile as a matter of habit in serving people).
• When someone asks you for something, give it to him.
• When someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him (We may not be able to afford what one wants to borrow, but let no one leave us empty handed).
Happy Sunday to everyone ! Cheers !