BE HOLY BECAUSE

 I AM HOLY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Be Holy Because I Am Holy.”

That’s the last line in today’s first reading from 1^st Peter 1:16. Peter says,  

“for it is written, ‘Be holy because I am Holy.’”

Where is that written?

It refers to the sacred writings in Leviticus 19:2 - in fact that whole section of Leviticus which starts with Chapter 17 talks about holiness.

ROOT MEANING - OF THE HEBREW WORD FOR HOLINESS

In his Dictionary of the Bible - John McKenzie SJ - says, “In the opinion  of most scholars the Hebrew root KDS has the basic meaning of separate.”

Separate: as in the difference between holy and unholy….

Separate: as in the difference between sacred and secular.

That makes lots of sense to me.

There is a difference between a coffee cup and a chalice. If someone walks into the sacristy with a Dunkin Donuts coffee cup in hand, they might rest it or leave it on a counter - and then toss it in the garbage when they are finished. A gold chalice gets washed carefully and goes  in the safe.

Saints - holy people - are often portrayed as separate - different - very safe to follow.

We who are God seekers.  We are all safe seekers.  

Why are we here - in this church this morning - but to be with God? - we feel separated from God. We want to be with God, the Holy One. So we walk in here - into this holy place - called church - to be washed, to feel cleansed by God.

When we sin or make mistakes we feel unclean - even more separated from God.

The little kid who steals the candy - or breaks a dish - or spills the water - says, “Uh oh!” - lowers his or her head, and can’t look into the eyes of her or parent. They feel  separation.

The arrested person puts a jacket or a newspaper in their face when they are being marched into a court house.

Shame - shame on you. You’re not being like God. You’re separate in comparison to the bigger person - God - a parent - an authority figure.

The whole  Bible has the message - to bridge the separateness from God - to become holy - while at the same time talking about sin and uncleanness.

Priesthood means bridge. Christ is the Pontifex - the Bridge.  Christ is the Holy One - the One from God - who came to us - to bring us to God - and remove all barriers - separators - walls.  Christ is the Holy One.  Christ is the one who bridges the separation between us and God the Father.

If you get that basic idea of holiness - I’m happy with this sermon.

Holy means separate.

God and me - no comparison.

God and me - no connection.

God and me - so different - so separate.

CONNECTING

Yet down deep -  we want to connect - be with God - perhaps starting - out of fear - but moving towards love and communion - holy communion.

Pope Francis - just recently came out with a whole document on Holiness.

It’s wonderful stuff.  You can get it and read it on line for free.

It’s basic. It’s simple. That’s Francis’ style.

The Second Vatican Council came up with Chapter 5 in its major document on the Church - that the whole church is called to holiness.

Merton, Von Balthasar, Both Teresa’s, most spiritual writers tell us we’re all called to be holy.

Their major message is communion - prayer - becoming holy like God - and then going out - crossing the bridge from holiness into sin and selfishness.

Christ calls us to work hard to make this world we’re in  - a better place - a better space. That’s why we have holy places like churches - sanctuaries - where we can become like God - Holy.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily was, “Be Holy Because I Am Holy.”

 I was going elsewhere, but when I thought about the idea of separate, I said to myself, “Let’s explore that.”

I ask you to do likewise.