Sunday, 23^rd February – 7^th Sunday of the year

Reflection: Leviticus 19: 1-2; 17-18

BE HOLY!

“Holiness” is a word that many of us, young people do not really want to be associated with. For us, it as an old fashioned word that describes a way of life which denies us of the pleasures of our youth. However, holiness is in fact, what we are called to as Christians. The first reading gives us God’s injunction to His children: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Holiness is an attribute of our Father in Heaven whom we must resemble just as we resemble our earthly parents in various ways. Dear friends, rather than dampening the joy and excitement of our youthful age, holiness helps us to know and enjoy this joy and excitement in a way that pleases our Heavenly Father who loves us so much and in whose hands lies our future.

Holiness means keeping ourselves free from all sinful affections. It demands a conscious desire and effort on our part to live in the righteousness that we have received at our Baptism. Hence, though we are saved through God’s grace and not by any effort on our part (Ephesians 2: 8-9), we must walk in holiness if we are to persevere in that grace we have received at Baptism and ultimately be united with our Father eternally. Leviticus 19: 17-18 gives us an example of what holiness entails – a life of love and forgiveness towards our neighbor (Leviticus 19: 17). In addition, we, as baptized Catholics are the temple of God, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. It is our duty to keep this temple holy otherwise, we bring destruction upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 3:17).

Dear friends, let us today, make a decision to be holy. All God demands is our sincere desire for holiness and then He will supply all the grace we need to be Holy. Let us approach Him in confession when we fall and receive the sanctifying grace He gives in the Holy Eucharist. Then, you and I can indeed “be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) “Holiness is not the luxury of a few people, but a simple duty for you and me”

BL. TERESA OF CALCUTTA (1910-1997)

PRAYER: Loving Father, Please help me to daily desire to please you and fill me with the grace that I may not be contaminated by the evil that surrounds me. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 342 – Are we all supposed to become “saints”?

Yes. The purpose of our life is to be united with God in love and to correspond entirely to God’s wishes. We should allow God “to live his life in us” (Mother Teresa). That is what it means to be holy: a “saint”.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Strive for peace with all men and strive to be holy, for without holiness no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14 CCB

Readings for today: Leviticus 19: 1-2; 17-18; Psalm 103: 1-4, 8-13; 1 Corinthians 3: 16-23