Called to holiness

The LORD bless you and keep you!  The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!  The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Isaiah (49:3, 5-6) reminds us that God has said that we are His servants, through whom He shows His glory.  But, “it is too little,” God tells us, “for you to be my servant...I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”  This is a wonderful thing, but one that we should accept knowing that it’s also a great responsibility.  God shows His glory through us.  Our lives should always reflect that.  We are made in His image and asked by Him to reflect His light onto all nations. 

The Psalms (40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10) show us that God is a loving Father.  He doesn’t ask us for offerings, but rather, He gives us a gift of “ears open to obedience.”  We are asked to do God’s will because it will be our delight.  It will be from our heart where God has written His intentions for us.  When we truly feel that God is speaking directly to us, all we can answer is, “Here I am Lord; I come to do your will.”   This is the new song that God has given us.

St. Paul’s opening in his first letter to the Corinthians (1Corinthians 1: 1-3) urges us to remember that all of us—like himself—have “been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”  It only makes sense that if we are called to be holy—and we answer that call—we are also telling God that we agree to do His will, setting ours aside for the good of all His holy Church.

John (1:29-34) recounts Jesus’ meeting with John the Baptist.  His account provides us with a lesson in heeding, and acting on, what God has said to us.  John the Baptist was told to look for a sign that the Son of God had come; “on whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will Baptize with the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus is that person.  John the Baptist tells us, “I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”  God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit has come to us and will remain forever.  Let’s go into the new year singing the new song that God has given us, “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” …whatever that may be.