All too often I realize that there is a bit of a disconnect. When we really take time to reflect on who we are and why we are here it is simple, very simple. We are children of God, placed here by God to love and serve Him by loving and serving each other. Our stay on this side of heaven is our dress rehersal for heaven. We are called to be holy, as our heavenly Father is holy, so we may share forever and ever with Him.
Sounds simple when you say it or write it down. But is it simple?
In the next two weeks we will read Scripture that challenges us to be holy, and in Matthew 5:48 we will be challenged to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Perfect? Can we be perfect?
It seems to me, especially lately, that I am being challenged in this area.
In my challenge to serve God and others and called to holiness I am aware of how "easy" this is when assisting at Mass, or preparing for a Sacrament like Baptisms and Weddings, or going to the prison; you get the idea. I am also aware how much more "difficult" it seems to respond to the call to holiness in the everyday things like going to my secular job or folding clothes or just being myself in my circle of friends, or family. Don't get me wrong. I have been aware of God's presence even in these everyday ordinariness. I have even been granted the grace to minister to many in the ordinary, in the secular. But, I still find myself, and others around me, quick to forget about the call to holiness in some of my everyday words and actions.
Do I and others always uphold the human dignity of being a child of God in speaking of and to others? In light of the recent readings of the Beatitudes, and the call to be salt and light, do I always uphold the sacredness of all my brothers and sisters? Are the words I choose to use when speaking of others build their human dignity and call to mind the sacredness of the individual? Are my deeds worthy of the teachings of Christ? Are my everyday behaviors in any way sinful?
Recently I was made aware of a human being, a child of God, made to feel low because of the choice of words used and the ease of "dismissing" someone in the secular world. Why do we want to place people in categories and then find them to be "less" because they may not be #1 or achieve top place in doing some "thing". Sure, we must all perform in school, work, our social life and our civic responsibilities, but holding others accountable does not mean no respect, no dignity and dare I say it; no love.
To be holy like Him, to be perfect as our Father is perfect challenges us to love on another. Making fun of others, diminishing others, unnecesssary intimidation of others, criticizing others in a public venue; not so "love" like.
I believe that we can take the entire 5th chapter of Matthew, place ourselves comppletely in His presence, read it, reflect on it and pray with it, and maybe we can make ourselves more aware of our holiness, of our response to Jesus who tells us be perfect! And we can take these words, make them our prayer and then implement them in our everyday ordinariness. Pick up your Bible and take a long look at Matthew 5.
And treat everyone as they are: a child of God, a fellow traveler on the journey, called too to be holy and perfect!
I appreciate your post. I struggle with this pretty often, and it bothers me. I'd like to be more holy, and more patient with others. Sometimes it can be a challenge. I want to live up to what God wants of us. Maybe I need to do as you said, remember that each of us is a child of God, and try to be more forgiving. I say that, but I need to keep trying.
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