April 9, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

“You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

Several times in the Old Testament the command is given by God for His people to be holy because He is holy. But what does that mean?

To be holy simply means to be set apart, not with the intention of being separate, exclusive and "holier-than-thou", but to show others an alternative way of living, which, unlike the world's, brings true joy and fullness of life as willed for us by God. We do this by obeying and imitating Jesus whose holiness is not seen in ostentatious pietism but in obedience to His Father and in nonselective love of neighbor. That's how we show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.