As baptized members of the Church, that is the body of Christ, we are called to live lives different from others in the world, to be a people “set apart”. In Hebrew, holiness literally means “to be set apart.” So, our call to holiness means we are called to live according to our identity as members of Christ’s Church, following Christian laws and modeling Christian ideals. The Greek word Ecclesia, which today we use to refer to the Church, translates literally as “to be called out of”. What we literally are “being called out of” is the world and all worldly things: sin, greed, lust, hatred, anger, un-forgiveness, untruths, adultery, attachments and fixations. It is Jesus himself who taught us exactly how to do this, and it is He who calls us still today!
We shouldn’t think so much in terms of “the Church wants me to do this or that”; rather, we should look at it as Jesus asking us to live according to his teachings. Everything the Church teaches comes from Jesus’ life and teaching. When the Church teaches that abortion is always wrong; that is Jesus telling us that we shouldn’t be involved and we should work to stop its practice. When the Church teaches that birth control or contraception is wrong; that is Jesus challenging us to live life trusting in God and respecting His plan. When the Church teaches to forgive those who have hurt you; that is Jesus calling you to lay down your life for the good of another. All of these teachings are difficult to live by, and all require sacrifice. It isn’t easy, but that is what it means to truly live according to your identity.
Jesus himself had to live according to His identity and it wasn’t always easy for Him either. He sweated blood in Gethsemani and endured crucifixion as a result. Jesus teaches that if we truly want to identify ourselves as Christians, we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. A Christian living with a girlfriend or boyfriend outside of wedlock, a Christian who doesn’t believe in forgiveness, a Christian who ignores the Church’s teachings is not living according to their identity and is putting their soul in mortal danger. In truth, when those who profess to be Christians engage in worldly things like everyone else – it does a great deal of harm to all. What our world needs today, more than ever, is for Christians to actually live like Christians!
Jesus wants us to serve with our lives and not just with our lips. We each need to be conscious of our identity and how God calls us individually to action. Now ask yourself, do you do your best to live your life according to the values and ideals required for a truly Christian identity? None of us will become Holy, unless we actually begin to do Holy things, and work to avoid unholy things. In truth, we can all do better… and, now is a wonderful time to recommit to Jesus, and to “pick up our cross and follow Him”!
In Christ,
Father Steve