ME…HOLY..? A YOUNG MAN ASKED ME…AND I ANSWERED: YES…! YOU TOO AS WELL!
St Peter in his 1st Letter (1: 15-16) reminds us, citing the words of Leviticus: “as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev 19:2).’” And as St. Paul tells us as well: “This is the will of God: your sanctification (1Thes 4:3).”
But, WHAT CAN I, A WEAK FRAGILE SINNER, DO?
Pope Francis encourages us: “God says to you: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF HOLINESS, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO AIM HIGH, TO LET YOURSELF BE LOVED AND PURIFIED BY GOD, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LET YOURSELF BE GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. Let us be infected by the holiness of God. EVERY CHRISTIAN IS CALLED TO SANCTITY (cf. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, nn. 19-42); and SANCTITY DOES NOT CONSIST ESPECIALLY IN DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, BUT IN ALLOWING GOD TO ACT. It is the meeting of our weakness with the strength of his grace, it is having faith in his action that allows us to live in charity, to do everything with joy and humility, for the glory of God and as a service to our neighbour. There is a celebrated saying by the French writer Léon Bloy, who in the last moments of his life, said: “THE ONLY REAL SADNESS IN LIFE IS NOT BECOMING A SAINT”. LET US NOT LOSE THE HOPE OF HOLINESS, LET US FOLLOW THIS PATH. Do we want to be saints? THE LORD AWAITS US, WITH OPEN ARMS; HE WAITS TO ACCOMPANY US ON THE PATH TO SANCTITY. Let us live in the joy of our faith, let us allow ourselves to be loved by the Lord… let us ask for this gift from God in prayer, for ourselves and for others.” Pope Francis, “General Audience”, October 2, 2013.
Have a nice Friday ahead, friends! God bless you and your loved ones 😀
-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo, priest of Opus Dei, of the Catholics Striving for Holiness FB page. We cordially ask your help to visit and like our page in https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholics-striving-for-Holiness/428443983999271 We would even more grateful of you invite your friends as well so as to reach out to more people and help them in their path towards holiness . Thanks in advance for you kindness and apostolic zeal! 😀