Leviticus 19:1-2
The LORD said to Moses: Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
I was not brought up in the church. So as a young man when my mother went back to church and we were all suddenly Catholic I had a little trouble figuring out all this holiness stuff. I had yet to experience an example of holiness, other than my mother's patience with me, but I didn't know that was holiness yet. So when we became Catholic and I was told I had to "give something up" for Lent I was perplexed. What did giving up ice cream have to do with being holy? It wasn't until later in life that I learned it was about discipline. As human beings we lean more toward doing what feels good rather than being disciplined and doing only what is right. I was brought up in a society that told me "as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else it's ok". That philosophy is a lie from the devil.
What follows this verse in Leviticus is a list of ways we can do no wrong to our neighbor. As young fledglings following the One True God that is about all the Israelites could comprehend. But God is calling us to be holy, to be disciplined. In today's Gospel Jesus takes us to the next level with the parable of the sheep and goats. It's not enough to simply do no harm. We must actively seek to be holy, and when we do we will naturally reach out to help those around us who are less fortunate. So today as we begin our Lenten journey pray that the practice of discipline you undertake will lead you to be holy, like our God is holy.
