Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16 NABRE)
What does it mean to be holy?
A web search of the origin of the word relates it to the idea of being sacred--referring to the gods or their powers and also to the space around a temple. The modern English word itself dates back to an 11th-Century Old English word meaning whole and it was used to mean "uninjured, sound, healthy, entire, complete."*
A few modern definitions describe being dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose, or in a Christian sense, being united with Jesus in and through the Holy Spirit.*
A powerful description of the word reads that: This word applies to God because God Himself is totally other, separate, sacred, transcendent, reverend, and set apart from every created thing.*
We know that God is holy by any definition of the word, but how do we become holy in our lives? How do we set ourselves apart from "the world" which seeks to separate us from God's presence?
We can only do what Jesus told us to do in his very first public statement, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) All the implications of this turn our minds and hearts toward Jesus. When we do that, we reprioritize all other things behind him and his call on our lives. It calls for faith and trust in him.
Today, I will be holy because Jesus is holy.
Saint Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, who discovered saving grace in suffering, pray for us.
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