God told Moses to tell the Israelites, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy,” and this command is applicable to us today. The rest of today’s readings develop this theme and offer us some guidance on how to live a holy life, although we find it challenging: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” “…the temple of God, which you are, is holy.” “Love your enemies…” “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Complete perfection and undimmed holiness are impossible for us. God alone is perfect and completely holy. However, we must do our best to live so as to imitate the perfect and holy life Jesus lived on earth. When we fail, we must ask God’s forgiveness and seek grace to obey.
But we need to take concrete steps to grow in holiness: loving our neighbors, including our enemies; spending time with God in prayer and worship; sharing the financial resources God has entrusted to us. In seeking to serve God and our neighbor, others will recognize that we have grown in holiness.
