BE HOLY, AS I AM HOLY

Monday, first Week of Lent/2024

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP


Theme: Be holy as I AM Holy

The community of the sons of Israel was called to display the holiness of God or to reveal the glory of God. This is the vocation the whole community received as a people. This was the purpose of their existence. “Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” The means to attend or achieve this vocation was not hidden from them. It was by obeying the voice of God and keeping this Commandments. The keeping of the Commandments of God makes a person a bona fide member of the community; and the neglect of them excludes a person from the community of God’s people. By listening to the word of God, meditating and putting it into practice, the community comes to share the mind of God, and reflects his glory by their way of living. Though the Commandments of the Lord are perfect, and truly reflect the goodness and the glory of God, the law failed to bring about the holiness of the community because the issue of sin has not be dealt with. “The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple.” The Spirit of the Law was not received because sin is not taken care of. This is what Jesus brings to us—redemption from our sins—hence, he proclaimed that the kingdom of God is now present. 

This new community founded on the proclamation of Jesus Christ differs from the old community of sons of Israel as grace differs from law. It is not just a community or people called to reflect the glory of God, it is truly the kingdom of God mystically present, though not fully realized. The difference in the essence and foundation of the two communities is evident in the nature of the law given to each of the communities. The new Law is about doing and not about abstaining or not doing evil. Because Jesus Christ our Lord made grace abundant for the community, the law is performative. The doings are not human doings, for that would bring no one into the kingdom of heaven; but cooperating with the Holy Spirit to bring about the work of God. Thus, the new Law is about living in the love of Jesus Christ, so as to make him present everywhere for the salvation of souls. This is what he said will form the basis of his judgement of all nations; that is, their love for him who loved them unto death. “Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food…” Thus, we are able to keep the new Law to the extent we live for Jesus in the Holy Spirit who is love. The Spirit is freely given to us because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ our Lord. So, it is not the doings, but the love of Jesus which prompts the doings that is salvific.

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord, that meditating on the mysteries of Jesus Christ your Son, we may truly be filled with his love.       


 

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