6 March 2017 - all in

[ Today's Readings ]

Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

The LORD is holy. He calls us to be as well. He does not call us to an arbitrary standard. He calls us to become like himself. As we approach him in likeness our whole relationship with him becomes more intense and intimate. The pure of heart see God. Without holiness no one can see him. This is not to say that we are on our own. Rather we walk by faith as God himself helps us to grow in holiness. The very holiness that he gives us transforms us from one degree of glory to another. Now we are sons and daughters of God but we can't even guess what awaits us.

Holiness sometimes seems like a balancing act between love of God and love of neighbor. Loving our neighbor often seems disconnected from loving God. They even seem opposed. Yet in loving our neighbor we do love God.

For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.

In not loving our neighbor we also fail in loving God.

Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.

We make ourselves fit or unfit for heaven with each choice we make. Heaven means saying yes to God with no reservations. It begins here and now. Jesus helps us to desire that yes and to give it. Our yes becomes like his own yes to the Father and to all of his promises.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory (see Second Corinthians 1:20).

Our holiness becomes like his own holiness because it is his holiness that is manifested in us by the Holy Spirit. This can be nothing other than union with God. This is partaking in the divine nature itself!

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature (see Second Peter 1:3-4).

The call to keep his command is a call to union with him. It rejoices our hearts, clears our eyes, and purifies us, until our own words and thoughts can truly find favor before him.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.