What is your take on Holiness? A Reflection for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
What is your take on Holiness?
A Reflection for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Sister Rose Urbanczyk, MSF
February 19, 2017: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 103:1-2; 3-4; 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48
As I reflected on the readings for today, one word immediately came to my mind and that is HOLINESS; as Jesus points out in the Gospel, “….so be perfect , just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:48. Not sure about you, but every time I hear these words, I’m thinking to myself: is that even possible? Nobody can ever be as perfect as our God!
Do you believe that saints actually live among us? I mean living, struggling, no halos, in the eyes of the world very ordinary people who make a difference everyday – these kind of saints? Have you seen or meet or live or work with any? The one I know and will never forget is my godmother, Hedwig. Single woman by choice taking her role as a godmother very seriously and making it her priority. How was she helping my parents in raising me (and my siblings) in Catholic faith? Sometimes, in words teaching me about God; but mostly in showing me that one can live a life that is full of profound joy, happiness, and simply Christian LOVE. Her another mission in life was helping others through baking and cooking – yes, you’re reading it correct…..baking and cooking. She baked cakes for all occasions and cooked for weddings. I had the privilege to help her sometimes because she baked at home; so I saw how with great love and care she helped people and took a great joy in a job well done. In the midst of all her work, she showed me that God is a real Person and that He lives in other people, by doing everything for God with such a kindness and joy. Prayer and reliance on God in everything was her weapon against all kinds of “downs” in her life. She didn’t have to say eloquent words to explain the importance of God, I looked at her life and I knew where her joy and surrender to God’s will was coming from. My godmother literally lived what all three readings from today’s Sunday proclaim: “take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ( LV 19:17); “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16); “should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.” (Mt 5:42) Though not canonized by the church, in my eyes my godmother is a saint; and now, for sure, perfect in His everlasting presence.
What is your take on Holiness? If thinking about being holy makes you feel overwhelmed, then let yourself to be overwhelmed and then go to Jesus in prayer, to His word in the Scriptures where you will find the directions as to how to strive for holiness every day. There shouldn’t be any doubt in our mind, as Catholics, that through Baptism we were called to be holy and perfect the way God is. So, we need to embrace that call and make it our own, not leaving it to priests, religious, the Pope, etc. Yes!!!! God calls you right now to be holy and perfect “……just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48). Yeah! YOU! ……with all your imperfections, sins, weaknesses and fear of following Jesus radically and faithfully step by step, day by day, year after year. I bet that you have in your life people who betrayed you, who broke your trust, who hurt you, who persecute you, whom you even might be tempted to wish God’s rage upon; people at work, in your families – people whose behavior is truly very far from perfection. Can you name these people? If you do, then after today’s readings, if your heart is open to the light of the Holy Spirit, your life will never be the same. You will remember that God lives in all these people, no matter what their behavior, they are still the temple of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps they have forgotten or don’t know they are; then your kindness, compassion and mercy toward them will show them the way. At times when others will really annoy you or you simply won’t like them for whatever reason, Jesus will put this reminder in front of you: “….for if you love only those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? (Mt 5:46)
To become holy will take God’s grace and most likely our whole lifetime of effort and commitment, but how can we dismiss a very clear invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ asking us to be holy as God our Father is Holy? We have to start today!
If you still feel uneasy about this profound call to perfection, let’s pray with the words of today’s psalm: “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.” Ps 103:3-4 …..and ask Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the desire of being holy day in and day out.
Sister Rose Urbanczyk, MSF is a member of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family founded by Blessed Boleslawa Lament in 1905. The charism of the congregation is to work for the unity of Christ’s through education, health care, and parish ministries (more on congregation at http://holyfamilysisters.usand facebook: Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family). Sister Rose joined the congregation in Poland and upon arrival to United States studied at Marquette University graduating with Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and later earned Masters in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University. Sister taught second grade in parochial school, worked at Franciscan Mission Office and CNA in local catholic hospital. Currently, she serves as a vocation directress for the congregation here in States and as the director of Religious Education at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kankakee. She loves playing board games with sisters and outdoors activities, especially hiking.
