Called To Holiness 

   “God calls you to holiness, and everything that happens in your life, every triumph, trial, and tragedy, is an opportunity to grow in holiness.” (Matthew Kelly, “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic”) 

   Holiness is not something we can attain for ourselves, it can only come from God.  We are sinners, imperfect humans, becoming holy is not within our ability.  But all things are possible with God.  If we ask He will make us holy as He is holy.

   When things are going well in life, we happily accept God’s gifts and see in them the holiness He wishes us to have.  It’s much more difficult to accept trials and tribulations with the same thankfulness though they too are often God’s way to bring us to holiness.

   If we sincerely believe in God and His love for us; if we sincerely believe that His will is all that really matters, then we can begin to accept holiness within us.  If we turn away from the trials, if we refuse the cross, we can never become holy.

   Attaining our goals nearly always requires some pain and suffering along the way.  We must be willing to accept the difficulties and hardships before we can know the joy of achieving the goal we seek.  It is no different for Christians; we too must be willing to bear the hardships along with the blessings if our holiness is the goal.

   Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be a follower of mine, must renounce himself and take up the cross every day and follow me.” (Luke 9: 23).  In His life, our Lord suffered rejection, betrayal, abandonment, and finally, death on the cross.  If we are to follow Him, if we are to become holy we must be willing to accept whatever life brings, even to following Him all the way to the cross.