Rejoice in the Lord, you just! — Psalm 97:12

Mass Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 / Matthew 25:1-13 

Called to Be Holy 

The last few days we’ve been reading through parts of Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians which includes exhortations, guidance and instructions for the early Church community. Today Paul says something striking: “This is the will of God, your holiness.” He echoes the words of Jesus who told followers to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). Paul presents a list of behaviors to avoid in order to reach the goal, concluding, “God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness.” 

We wonder how we can be holy and even perfect. Yet at the end of today’s reading, Paul supplies the key: God gives us the Holy Spirit. It’s only in the Holy Spirit that we can hope to be holy or perfect. What God asks He also supplies. 

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart so that I may be pleasing to God.