One Holy Thing

Anybody can do what is good. An atheist can do good things. But what about doing what is holy?

Being Chosen in the Bible

Reading the Old Testament can be both terrifying and boring. Not everything that biblical people did is good or holy (Lot’s daughters, Jephthah, etc.). Many stories demonstrate the brokenness of humankind, the brokenness of our lives in a fallen world. Because of our brokenness, the Old Testament also demonstrates the importance of worship — of having true relationship with God and being reconciled, being healed, being saved.

God chose a man, Abraham, his family, then their tribe that became a nation (Israel) to be set apart from all other humans upon the Earth. They were called to be set apart in order that they may directly receive God’s miraculous intervention and God’s saving word into their lives. They were instructed to love the Lord with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their strength. They were given 10 Commandments to obey, written in stone by the finger of God. They were also given myriad instructions on how to be holy and worship the Lord. All of the harsh rules and repercussions given by God to the people (the terrifying parts of the OT) were solely to discipline them in the ways of holiness, of otherness, to remind them and make them realize that they were different than other people, that they were set apart by God for God’s ultimate plan of salvation. All of the directions about sin offerings and purifications and Tabernacle construction (the boring parts of the OT) had only one thing at heart: the holy worship of God.

The Israelites were promised a Messiah, one who would be chosen and anointed by God to ultimately lead them out of sin and into the Promised Land, a Most Holy Messiah, who would be the Eternal Prophet, Eternal Priest, and Eternal King. Enter Jesus, the Christ. Jesus did not abolish the Mosaic Law, but came, rather, to fulfill it. He Himself is the Altar, the Priest, and the sacrifice for atonement of all of our sins. He Himself is the ultimate sign and wonder — fully human and fully divine, who rose from the dead and ascended — He Himself is God’s Word made flesh.

Okay, now this post was not meant to be a treatise on Christianity! It was actually intended to be short. Oops. All I really wanted to tell you about was a ring that I received. Sheesh.

Consecrated

While reading the Old Testament this year and listening to the commentary of a podcast, I’ve been thinking a lot about holiness over the last several months. I try to be a good person. I try to be a good Christian. Sometimes, however, I think that being a Christian means being a good person. It does, but… it means so much more. Being a Christian means being a holy person.

We may think that holiness is only for priests, monks, and nuns. But it’s not. Priests and Religious brothers and sisters are not the only Christians who are called to be set apart, to be consecrated by God for divine purpose. We are all consecrated in Christ through baptism. We are all called to be holy — to be set apart, to be different in order to truly worship God and receive the fullness of His blessings.

Say you’re a dad with a wife of 12 years, three kids, a 40 hour a week job, and a special interest in football and prime rib. Great. You are called to be holy in the living of your life.

Say you’re a grandmother with four grandkids that don’t come to visit you as often as you like, an over 65 apartment, a baking habit, a bad hip, and a passion for salsa music. You are called to be holy in the living of your life.

I’m a single middle-aged woman with a motoneuron disease, two cats, a managed genealogy addiction, a penchant for writing and salty food, and a small suite in my parents’ house where they and paid aides take care of me. I am called to be holy in the living of my life.

Each of us can be good people in the living of our lives and find ways to use our time and talents to do good things: coaching pee-wee football to underprivileged kids in the inner-city, baking breads and cakes for a soup kitchens and homeless shelter, or writing spiritual reflections to encourage and inspire people who may be suffering. That’s all good. Very good.

But…

What about the “setting apart” meaning of holiness? Sure, each of us are may also be doing our best to speak out against the culture of death and to avoid the sinful actions that mainstream society calls … well, mainstream. But what about our hearts? What about all of those biblical commands and instructions that seemed like little things, that seemed like they had no direct results that would benefit anyone in a good way — anyone but God? In Jesus, in the New Covenant, we are not called to sacrifice bulls or stone our rebellious teenagers. Thank God. But we are called to pray without ceasing. We are called to turn the other cheek, to let the Word of God slice us like a sword, and to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and all our souls and all our minds. How do we do that?

Dedicated

In 2013, I decided to do something that I didn’t quite understand, but which I believed could become essentially important for me. I made a personal act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This was a holy thing. But it wasn’t a one-and-done thing. To truly be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus I need to listen to the instructions of this particular Consecration and follow the directions, even if they don’t seem like they would have any direct benefit to anyone. Even if I don’t feel any benefit for me.

Over the last 10+ years, I have not been doing that. My commitment has been weak and paltry. So, the day before my 50^th birthday, I went to Mass on First Friday and received Holy Communion. And then, as a birthday present, I chose a ring with the symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus upon it. I decided to attend First Friday for nine consecutive months this year, which is part of the Sacred Heart Consecration, and I had that ring put on my finger as a way to remind me. A small, seemingly insignificant thing to help me realize that I am set apart.

You, dear Christian, are set apart. So do something holy. Do something that’s just for God — not for anybody else. Do something that the world thinks is foolish but which is a holy thing in the eyes of God. Let’s do it together. Whatever you may choose to do — take up praying the rosary regularly, attend Daily Mass once a week, take five minutes to read from the Bible every day, sing all alone in a room to God with no one else to hear you but God — do it with commitment. Do it with love for God.

And, if you’re like me, when you fail, when you forget, when you feel frustrated with your foibles and frailties (which happens for me far too frequently), let God forgive you. Take a breath and ask for God’s mercy and receive God’s mercy in your heart. Let God’s loving mercy fill you and cleanse you and make you new in that new moment. Then rise up and try again.

© 2024 Christina Chase

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Feature Photo, Christina and her Sacred Heart of Jesus ring © 2024 Dan Chase