The call to holiness echoes through the sacred texts heard to this weekend. In Leviticus we hear God’s call: “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” And in the Gospel a similar call is heard: “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Within the gap of six centuries between these two Scriptural texts and for the last 2000 years, humans continue to relearn what it means to be holy or perfect in the eyes of God and humanity.
While former generations have adopted a variety of pathways to holiness, our call to holiness is not rooted in our deeds, nor in ourselves, but in God. From the first chapter in Genesis we hear: “God created humankind in the divine image,“ and that image embraces all that is true, good, loving and holy. Our call is to live our lives, becoming true to that image. Our tradition reminds us of this special relationship between Creator and creatures that sets us apart for special service. We are human temples in which God dwells and the Spirit moves. Upon that realization, we become aware that holiness is contained within the powerful title, Christians---Christ bearers. As Christians we are called to a holiness that impels us to forgive even under tragic circumstances.
One recent example helps address the challenge: On June 17, 2015, nine members of the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, were shot to death during a Bible-study class in the basement of the church. The shooter was a 21 year-old white man who entered the classroom as they were studying. They invited him to join them, and for a time he did participate in their Bible study. Just as they ended their class with heads bowed in prayer, he pulled a gun and one-by-one shot the nine people. What a horrific tragedy to suddenly lose nine loved people who had gathered in their church to study and pray. Yet, three days later, when invited to share a statement at the shooter’s bond hearing, several of the family members turned to the shooter and said, “I forgive you!”
Spiritual leaders have spoken against the contemporary “idols of power, wealth and pleasure” which have become prominent goals in the world’s struggle to achieve prominence. We can recognize what we truly worship by noting on what we spend our energy and our money, on what makes us cheer, and by what we strive to be and do. Pope Francis commented on the “universal call to holiness” saying: ”We are all called to become saints! …and when the Lord calls us to be saints, he does not call us to something hard or sad…not at all! It is an invitation to share his joy, to live and offer every moment of our lies with joy, at the same time making it a gift of love for the people around us.”
Tragedy aside, most of the believing world has yet to take Jesus at his word. Nevertheless, this living Word continues to call us to holiness. Is it logical? No! Is it easy? No! It is the holiness that was so eloquently expressed in God’s gift of Jesus, who offered his own life and death as a call to holiness: “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:34] Yet, the crucifixion was not surrender. The courage to not return evil for evil invites the conversion of the enemy. Eye-for-eye justice does not challenge the behavior of the wrongdoer, nor does it cause a heart to soften. But undeserved compassion and forgiveness can turn a stone heart to flesh. The shadow of the cross has been doing exactly that for twenty centuries.
----Deacon Wilson Shierk