Reading: 1 Peter 1:16
It is written: “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Reflection: Being holy means becoming and being what God already is – holy! I remember reading in a book long ago what it means to ‘be holy’? Exactly that – to be! Does God strive to be holy? No – He is holy! It is not much different with us. We are equally holy! The difference is that we are made holy by God’s decision and we do not have to strive to become holy – we already are!
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Therefore, the question of holiness is not a moral question, as we often understand it. It is a question of our existence (ontological question). When it comes to holiness, being comes before doing. What remains for us is to live what we already are. How? Let’s take the example of a mother. Does a mother strive to be a mother? No! She is a mother, and motherhood becomes part of her nature after giving birth. However, on the other hand, she strives to live her motherhood in the true sense of the word and to achieve the goal of motherhood.
In the life of a Christian, it is a great challenge to understand and stop confusing holiness and morality. Our holiness has its roots in the transformation of identity through the renowned metanoia, after surrendering to God through Christ Jesus. Then our life gets a new starting point. Morality, as a mature response to many challenging situations, will naturally follow.
So, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and love. You see much more in us than we see in ourselves. Please help us to live our call to holiness effortlessly, for you have already declared us holy by your decision. May our lives reflect your presence and may we achieve the goal of holiness we strive for. Amen.
Photo by Jenna Norman on Unsplash
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