Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Sunday, on the Feast of Epiphany, I reflected on the star that led the magi to the manger. I remember saying that whereas the star was an external sign, the magi were also following a star within them – that their conviction that their destiny lay in Christ. I also remember asking the question, “What is your star?” “Where is your star leading you?” “Who lies at the end of your star?” Liturgically, now that the Christmas season behind us and we enter ‘Ordinary Time’, I would like to continue from where we left off. But I would like to continue the reflection using the theme of ‘holiness’. Perhaps, the Christmas star is leading us to holiness.
The reason I have chosen holiness as today’s theme is because I am inspired by today’s second reading, in which Paul addresses the Corinthians as, “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy” (1Cor 1:2). It is very similar to God’s words to prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading. God sent Isaiah as “a light to the nations” (Is 49:6) In the gospel reading too, John introduces the Jesus to the world as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). All the three scripture readings touch upon the theme of holiness.
Normalizing Holiness
In the liturgical ‘Ordinary Time’ I would like to begin by proposing that holiness is for the ordinary time. I call this, “normalizing holiness”. Is it not true that we think of holiness as a special class of men and women? Many people that think holiness is beyond them is because it is the trait of the saints. Perhaps, this is because our definition of a holiness is skewed. We might think of a holy person as someone almost a little weird, a little awkward, someone who has no fun at all, someone churchy. Genuine holiness is not any of these things.
The first step is to normalizing holiness is to accept that each of us is holy in varying degrees. To deny our holiness is to deny the presence of God in us. I suggest then, that we recognize those areas of our lives where we are holy. For example, even the smallest and weakest desire for God that we can detect is a spark of holiness. Our participation in this Eucharist is a sign of holiness. Our frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation is a sign of holiness. Every moment we spend in prayer, or every prayer we say for another person in need is a sign of holiness. Every act of goodness that we perform selflessly is a sign of holiness. As parents, every Christian value you inculcate in your children is a sign of holiness. As children and as young people every effort to walk in the way of Christ is a sign of holiness. Our first step is to recognize and nurture these signs of holiness. They are the signs of God’s presence in us.
Giving Sin its Due
The second step in normalizing holiness is to recognize those areas of our lives that diminish our holiness, namely, sin. Sin is a reality of human existence. In fact, Jesus came as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Lord.”
Talking about sin, it is not the accidental sin that is worrisome. For example, I am sure that each of us gets up each morning with intentions of living an honest, loving, and peaceful day. We do not plan to gossip, or enter into arguments, or lie, or indulge a lustful, or be greedy. But these things happen. But then there are also sins that can become part of our very character: hate, resentment, unforgiveness, racism, pornography, materialism, substance abuse, selfishness, and anger. Growing in holiness means recognizing these areas that may have become a way of life. These are the sins that diminish our holiness. Here are the areas where we need to seek God’s grace, and work systematically to overcome them. Remember, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Christ is with us and helps us as we seek to grow in holiness.
Let Us be Practical
The third step is the most practical suggestion that I am making. This week, take one area of holiness and nurture it. For example, you may decide that this week that you will make room for prayerful silence and solitude. Or you may decide to make it to the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week. Or you may decide to live more lovingly, kindly, and gently. Or you may decide to live more responsibly toward the earth. Along with that, this week also take one area of sin and bring it before Christ. For example, you may decide that you will not speak negatively of another person behind their back, or that you will not give into anger, greed, or lust. In other words, work in one area to increase holiness and work on one area to diminish sinfulness. Gradually we will find ourselves growing in holiness and becoming better disciples of Jesus.
There is no better place to nurture the quest for holiness than the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the closest we get to Jesus in this life. The Eucharist is the closest we get to the lives of the saints. Let us find the source, the summit, and the end of our holiness in the Eucharist. Amen.
-Fr. Satish Joseph