Community Word:
Disciples of Christ are purified towards holiness by their love for God and others.
Order:
“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mat 5:16)
Reflection:
Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God. It is a virtue by which our mind applies itself and what it thinks and does to God, having clean hands and a pure heart. Our Holy God delights in reshaping our character so that we reflect His holiness more and more each day. As we face the challenges that test our faith, our best response is to hold fast to God’s holiness, His love, His wisdom, using all tools at our disposal, especially the promises of Scripture and our community teachings. It is only through His Spirit that we can find the power we need to become holy as Jesus is holy. In doing so, we can just stay close to the Lord with His light upon us, so that others may see His holiness in what we say and do, thus giving Him glory.
For the month of February, our weekly themes provide us some insights on how we will be able to walk in holiness in our love for God and others.
The theme for the first week is – We are purified towards holiness when we commit to a life of worship, prayer and fasting. The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is more than Jesus’ being brought to the temple to comply with Jewish law. More importantly, it is about Jesus coming to us as fulfilment, as hope and as truth. He is now the way to the Father, the path to a fulfilled life in God’s sight, the road to living in the image of God we were created to be. Jesus embodies the hope of eternal life for people of every nation and culture, the hope of forgiveness, new life. The presentation of the Lord shows Jesus as the truth of who we are, what we have become, and what we can be. Just as God gave us joyous blessings during the Christmas festivities, He will surely grant us more graces to embrace a season of prayer and fasting, of self-denial as we continually worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The theme for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time is – We are purified towards holiness when we are the salt of the earth and light of the world. The image of salt and light tells us about Jesus’ deepest desires. He wanted His followers to burn with fire in their hearts. Jesus is speaking these words to us to enrich the lives of others and to be an example of holiness to them. We are being told to be committed wholeheartedly in making a difference and improving the lives of others. God has given us unique gifts and He calls us to be salt and light for the world. We should use these gifts for God’s purposes. Let us carry this great challenge of being salt and light with humble assurance and grateful pride because of God’s goodness in calling us as His disciples.
The theme for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time is – We are purified towards holiness when we obey Jesus and are reconciled with one another. What Jesus really condemns is persistent and insidious anger, the kind of anger a person nurses and will not allow to go away. If you are angry even for a good reason, seek reconciliation at the soonest possible time; do not give the devil an opportunity to lead you into sin. Our Christian identity is defined not only by what we do not do – perjury, adultery, false witness, among others, but by what we do. We can destroy people through hatred, slander, defamation, wounding insult by dropping suggestive and malicious insinuation about their character. We may not stab people in the heart, but we can surely stab them in the back. Jesus is teaching us to look within us because attitudes go before actions. The Lord is saying that the real measure of violence in our society is in the ways we put people down. We are given the chance once more to renew our life and to examine the choices we are making to look at commitments that are shaping our life.
The theme for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time is – We are purified towards holiness when we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Love of enemies consists of doing good to them, blessing them, praying for them, treating them generously. If we do this, our negative feelings will slowly change into positive ones. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of resentment. Hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature love creates and builds up. Christianity is the only belief which teaches love of enemies. It is a difficult command but we can fulfil it with God’s grace which He always offers to us.
“Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” How close are we to being like our Father?
Prayer
God Almighty, we ask for your continuous guidance and patience in our journey of faith. Help us become more like you. May we all know victory everyday in the call to holiness for your greater glory, for your Namesake. Amen.
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