We Are All Called To Holiness

You are uniquely talented. You have gifts and abilities unlike anyone else. There are people whom only you can reach. There are things that only you can do. Only you can do what God has planned for you to do.

When we hear today’s gospel, we can be tempted to think that it doesn’t apply to us. Jesus can’t be asking us to drive out demons and heal the sick. He can’t mean that we should be preaching the gospel in the city streets. We can be tempted to think that today’s gospel has meaning only for nuns, deacons or priests. However, nothing can be further from the truth. Jesus is speaking to each one of us. He wants all of us to be holy and to bring His love to others. No one gets a pass from the duty to live the gospel and to bring the good news to others.

This year, Pope Francis wrote a document called Gaudete et Exsultate on the call to holiness in today’s world. The Holy Father makes it clear that holiness is something that God offers to every single person. He writes:

                        To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious.

We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those

who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer.

That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with

 love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.

Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by caring for your husband or wife as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by laboring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain. (GE 14)

To be holy and serve the gospel, then, does not always require that we go to Africa or Calcutta. It does not always mean renouncing our possessions and living in poverty. It does mean that, no matter where we may find ourselves, we are committed to bringing Jesus to others.  It also means that we trust God to work through us even though we are weak and sinful. It is really trust and reliance on God that characterizes people of holiness more than any other personal qualities, talents or accomplishments.

Pope Francis goes on to write that that are five signs of holiness in today’s world. They are:  Perseverance, patience and meekness; Joy and a sense of humor; Boldness and passion; Community; and Constant Prayer. Let’s take a look at each of those signs so that we can learn how to practice them in our own lives and so grow closer to the holiness that God is calling us to.

The first sign is perseverance, patience and meekness. Persons of holiness are grounded in God’s love for them and so are able to endure difficulties with patience. I see this so often in our catechists who strive to teach teenagers about God’s love even though they seem so indifferent to it. These catechists are not looking for recognition but simply want to witness to Jesus. They do so with confidence that, even though they are not immediately seeing any results, the Holy Spirit is planting seeds in the hearts of these young people that will one day bear fruit. Holy people keep focused on Jesus and so are able to persevere even when they see little or no results.

The second sign of holiness is joy and a sense of humor. People who are holy see the good in everything. They know that hard times come and go but that God’s love for them remains constant. I see this so often in parishioners I visit in the hospital and the nursing home. Despite their physical pain and loneliness, they still manage to smile and laugh. I see it also in young people who, in today’s world, are under so much pressure but find so much joy in being together. Because holy people believe that the world was created by a good and loving God, they are cheerful and serene no matter what life might throw at them.

The third sign of holiness is boldness and passion. Throughout the gospels, Jesus tells His disciples, “Do not be afraid”. Saint John tells us that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn 4:18). I see this boldness in our parents who confront the evils in society for the sake of their children. They want young people to grow up in a world better than the one they had and so are willing to stand up to any bully and work against any oppressive system, even at the cost of their safety. People of holiness are also people of courage who face their fears for the sake of those they love.

The fourth sign is that holiness is lived in community. It is interesting that many great saints had a best friend who was also a saint. We think of Saint Francis and Saint Clare and Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila. People of holiness are also good friends who love unconditionally and do not hold a grudge. The mark of holy people is that they love one another. We are drawn to holy people because of that love. Therefore, holy people seek out other holy people to inspire and motivate each other.

The fifth sign of holiness is constant prayer. Holiness is nothing other than friendship with Jesus and we nurture that friendship through prayer. To be holy also means that we radiate God’s love in everything we do. Unless we are experiencing and learning about God’s love through prayer, then we will have nothing to give to others. Holy people have strong prayer lives which give them inspiration and energy to serve others.

Pope Francis goes on to write: “Do not be afraid of holiness.It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you and you will be faithful to your deepest self” (GE 32). Holiness is attainable for all of us despite our weakness and sinfulness through the grace of our baptism. If we ask for God’s help and commit ourselves to serving others, we will begin to experience the signs of holiness active in our lives. In so doing, we will be fulfilling the purpose of our lives and giving glory to God who created us to be holy.