The True Role of a Pastor
Be Careful: Things that appear to be Gracious may not be what they really are!
The existence of observable actions are not the attributes of Holiness or God’s favor within any of us. Holiness as described in the Catechism; “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (CCC 2013).
“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5: 48).
However, it isn’t the outward actions of many people who attend Church more often that is normal, or the extra rosaries one may pray in a continuous manner that makes for holiness. We must look beyond the outward expression of being seen by others that appears to be a holy person.
“The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.” (CCC 2015). He who never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows. (cf St Gregory of Nyssa, from a homily).
When we speak of God’s Holiness, or allude to persons that claim to be holy, we must look deeper into the allusion to outward expressions. With God, his holiness cannot be described in human terms for us to emulate. He is so holy that the attributes of perfection are beyond the identification in human terms. The catechism above says to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect are a goal to approach, but in the attempt to reach that ideal we may find our stepping off the path and succumbing to the attacks of the evil one. Nevertheless, Jesus’ directive to that is not without grace through the Holy Spirit.
Holiness is possible within humanity’s attempt to reach that level of perfection as prescribed by Jesus. Becoming as Holy as God is a goal to reach for, but in spite of our lack of divinity we still will stand within the very depth of that Holiness that eludes from God’s Perfection. We can never become as holy or perfect as God, but the reflection of his perfect light will overshadow our attempts to please him and we may find the holy perfection reflecting off of the mirror of his example of an obedient child.
Our one result of trying to reach a holy level as God Is, the period after death, and in heaven with The Holy Trinity, we shall use that grace-filled virtue to Praise the God of eternity forever. Remember the words: “God yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13: 8).
Perhaps that level of Holiness can be described in the way any of us adheres to the suffering we offer for the evils of this world and take upon ourselves the very necessities that the Suffering Christ sets before us. If we can find room enough within a compassionate soul to emulate his Crucifixion, then maybe we can say this is holiness.
Ralph B. Hathaway