The previous two Catholic Man Channel articles provided insights into the first two of these three questions:
1. What does it mean to be a real man?
2. What does it mean to be a holy man?
3. What does it mean to be a man of God?
In this article, we will once again look at the second question: What does it mean to be holy? In particular, how can we become holy Catholic men?
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
"You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD.
"You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
"You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. You shall not go about spreading slander among your kinsmen; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake. I am the LORD.
"You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18)
Do you get the sense that God is trying to tell us something here? After each series of commands concerning how the Israelites are to treat one another, he proclaims yet again: "I am the Lord."(Leviticus 19:12,14,16,18). He is telling us that each command he gives is yet another reflection of his holiness — a holiness he is inviting us to take as our own. He is telling us that if we want to really know the holiness of God, all we have to do is look at these commands.
By placing such an emphasis on brotherly love and respect and honor, God is showing us that he himself is a Father who treats all his children the same way. We are to show honor because that is what he does, and he is "the Lord." Not surprisingly, his creation works best when it is in harmony with his nature. As his children, we cannot expect to find true happiness except in treating one another the same way he treats us.
And yet we still fail. Why? Because it is easy in the thick of the struggle to lose sight of God's kindness to us and disobey him by showing unkindness to those around us. But, true to himself, God does not seek revenge or hold a grudge. He forgives us. He extends his life and love to us. He still offers us the joy of heaven on earth; if we will only repent and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation he won for us though his passion, death, and resurrection.
Amazing, isn't it? He is Almighty God, but he doesn't lord it over us. He is the Uncreated Creator, but he stoops down to share his very life, his very holiness with us. If this is the way our God treats us, how much more should we act with justice and mercy toward one another. How much more should we say yes to the Lord's command: "Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy." (Leviticus 19:2)
"Father in Heaven, I surrender to your truth and love. Pour your Spirit into me so that I may have the power to see the things I need to change. Make me holy, and help me to live always in your light."
Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. The reading from Leviticus provides some commands from the Lord on how to be holy men. How are you doing in living up to the commands listed?
2. In what ways are these commands of the Lord "yet another reflection of his holiness."
3. Why is it necessary to first know and experience the Lord's love and forgiveness, before we are able to be obedient to the Lord's command: "Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy."
4. If you are in a men's group, pray for one another that you would respond to the Lord's command to be holy. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.
