As a baptized Catholic, I am called to be holy. The Universal Call to Holiness explained in Chapter V of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium helps me understand what this means.
All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor.
This call to holiness is what Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians. “Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
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The qualities in these two paragraphs should be part of our daily reflection. If I truly believe I am a disciple, a follower of God, then how do I measure up to what it means to live out my call?
To whom do I give credit when good things happen? Do I take all the credit, or do I take time to thank God for the good things in my life? When difficulties arise, do I blame God or do I look for the ways God accompanies me through those difficult times?
Are humility, patience and gentleness part of how I treat others? Or, am I impatient, treating others as if their lives don’t matter?
Can I disagree with others without being cruel?
Am I aware of the struggles those in my community face? What do I do to help ease their pain?
Living out our call to holiness requires us to be humble, to respect the lives and opinions of others, to look beyond ourselves to see the needs around us and do what we can to help meet those needs. It means understanding that not everyone has the same privileges and the same opportunities for a good life. Living out our call to holiness requires us to see God in others, to respect their dignity as children of God. Living out our call to holiness takes work to see that there is one God, one Father of all.
The blueprint for living a holy life is there. Following it takes commitment, courage and humility. Are you up for this challenge? Our world, your world, will be better for it.
Tucson faith leaders, we would like to include your original sermon or scriptures of encouragement. Sermons must be written by the person submitting them, not borrowed from another source or writer. If you are a faith leader from any religion or denomination, please contact Sara Brown at sbbrown@tucson.com.
Karen Brady
