Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Call to Holiness


What it means to say that "if I need something, I chase after it if it goes away"?  is to harp on the idea that David Foster Wallace was talking about. Humans are so set on being beautiful, smart, good, and worthy that their desire to attain these “necessities” makes them end up feeling as though they haven’t gotten what they wanted. They constantly seek these things to feel complete and content with this need to fulfill their purpose. This idea relates to the “Universal Call to Holiness “ because when we were baptized we were incorporated into the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is holy, which then makes us holy children of God. "All the members [of Christ's Body] must be formed in his likeness, until Christ is formed in them (see Gal. 4.19). For this reason we, who have been made like to him, who have died with him and risen with him [i.e. in Baptism] are taken up into the mysteries of his life, until we reign together with him." God gave us freedom, now it is up to us to grow in the freedom He gave us to follow in the image of Christ to embody his likeness. We should embody this likeness by radiating the love that Jesus exhibited through the Paschal Mystery. Jesus loves us all immensely, so much that he sacrificed his life for us. He isn’t spiteful when we turn our backs on him through sin, instead he is all the more forgiving and welcoming for us to come back and walk with him in his likeness. We as Christians are always on a path to holiness because we are working towards being genuinely incorporated with Christ through our actions. We want to fulfill our love and holiness with Jesus to make him pleased.
            I think this quote is telling the everyday Catholic to know that although they were incorporated into the Body of Christ and made holy, it is still a mission of theirs to maintain and uphold holiness. They were incorporated with Christ, now it’s their turn to allow Christ to be integrated into their spirit and virtues. They should strive to live out holiness because it is a true reflection of Christ in their life, and it will allow them to feel more connected with God as He leads them to their call to holiness.
            I think to "say who Christ is" without shame?” is an example of Jesus’ sanctity. Jesus is without sin, he is our example of someone who exhibited pure grace and faithfulness in his actions. While Christ was on this earth he endured disrespect, abuse, and intolerance from people. He was crucified and dehumanized. The son of God was dehumanized! Although we didn’t kill and crucify Jesus, we still hurt him badly when we sin against him. But yet, he forgives and loves us all unconditionally. He is an honorable figure because he is someone who never fails to love despite difficult circumstances. He rises above anger and hate to be model of holiness and love.
               




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