“BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY” 1 Peter 1:16

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

"BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY" [1 Peter 1:16].

The Trisagion Prayers

Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal!
Have mercy on us.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
Lord, cleanse us from our sins!
Master, Pardon our transgressions!
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for
Thy Name’s sake.

"And one called to another and said: ‘Holy,
Holy, Holy is hte Lord of Hosts, the whole
earth is full of His glory" [Isaiah 6:3].

"Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,
and give thanks to His Holy Name" [Psalm 30:4].

"Let the evildoers still do evil, and the filthy
still be filthy, and the righteous still do
right, and the holy still be holy" [Revelation 22:11].

"There is none holy like the Lord: for there
is none beside you, there no rock like our
God" [1 Samuel 2:2].

"For He who is mighty has done great
things for me and Holy is His Name" [Luke 1:49].

"I will not execute my burning anger, I will not
again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not
a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not
not come in wrath" [Hosea 11:9].

Holiness of God BELONGS TO GOD, and we who CANNOT ATTAIN HOLINESS ON OUR OWN BUT RECEIVE FROM HIM, are called to LIVE A HOLY LIFE BEFORE HIM. Indeed, Christians are called to HOLINESS IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIVES. In the Lord’s Prayer we say, "Hallowed be Thy Name." It is not that we want God’s name to be made holy by our prayers, but THAT HIS NAME MAY BE MADE HOLY IN US.

"As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am Holy" [1 Peter 1:14-16; Leviticus 20:7]. God created man to be holy as He is Holy. He calls everyone to live holy lives; a life of holiness, is the life in the Spirit. God’s Divine plan for our salvation has always been to lead us to holiness by obeying His Commandments. By adhering to His Holy Commandments, the faithful would reveal to the world the Goodness, Righteousness, Holiness, and love of the one, True God and Creator.

Orthodox Holy Tradition reveals the holiness of all the men and women both in the Old and New Testaments who served Our Merciful God faithfully through the centuries. They were the righteous and sanctified people of God. They were blessed by Him and revealed their holiness to the world. They were the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the holy Archangels and Angels, the holy Prophets, the Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers and Mothers, the Holy Ascetics, the Holy Martyrs, and the Holy Confessors. In the Gospel of Saint Luke we read: "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall bless me. For the Might One hath done to me great things; and Holy is His Name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation" [Luke 1:46-50]. She says that His Name is HOLY, showing that He Who is Most Pure was not stained in any way by having been conceived in the womb of a woman, but He REMAINS HOLY. His mercy is not only upon me, but upon ALL THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

Saint Theophylact says, "He magnifies God WHO LIVES IN A WORTHY MANNER WORTHY OF GOD. But you, O Christian, do not do the opposite and belittle the dignity of Christ and the Name of Christian by doing what you should not do, but rather MAGNIFY HIM WITH MAGNIFICENT AND HEAVENLY DEEDS. " The name Christian carries a great responsibility with it and it should not be taken lightly. When identifying himself/herself as Christian, he or she must live up to the name, which means to be a person worthy of His name. The Christian represents not himself but our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember the words, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" [Galatians 2:20].

In the Divine Liturgy we hear the celebrant priest exclaim: "Let us be attentive. The Holy [Things] for the holy." As the priest "elevates" the Holy Gifts he "invites" the faithful: "The Holy Things for the holy." What an awesome and fearful invitation! Although we are here for this reason, and this reason only, i.e. TO PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES, nevertheless when the moment comes we feel totally inadequate, unworthy and unprepared (can we ever be adequately prepared?) to step forth. The priest’s cry checks us, ctus us through, dissects us and proves us wanting" "Ta Hagia, the Holy Things, It is very clear that the Holy Gifts are NOT FOR EVERYONE. The "Holy [Things]" ARE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. Saint Nicholas Cavasilas says, "WE PARTAKE NOT OF HIS, BUT OF HIM." By saying, "The Holy [Things] to the holy" Saint John Chrysostom says, "it is if he meant, Whoever is NOT holy let him NOT come." This has been the understanding of the author of one of the earliest Christian documents, the Didache: "IF ANY ONE IS HOLY , LET HIM COME; IF ANY ONE IS NOT HOLY, LET HIM REPENT." As we see, then, HOLY COMMUNION IS NOT ‘OPEN’ TO ALL.

It is understood, however, it is not meant only for those who are sinless–or ELSE NO ONE COULD EVER APPROACH. It rather means those who have dedicated themselves to God, those who have set themselves apart, those who have been consecrated to God the sens Saint Paul applied it to himself: "set apart" [Romans 1:1]. IN BAPTISM WE WERE CONSECRATED TO GOD, TO HIS SERVICE, TO HIS ARMY. Saint Cavasilas offer a different interpretation as to why the faithful are called holy: "Those whom the priest calls holy are NOT ONLY those who have attained perfection, but THOSE ALSO WHO ARE STRIVING FOR IT WITHOUT HAVING YET OBTAINED IT". Protopresbyter Kallinikos agrees with this view: "Even thou complete holiness does not adorn our nature, even though our soul is bruised, let there be abundant our effort, that we may overcome evil and approach the only Holy ONe, from Whom we will draw new strength."

The people respond: "One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen" This response swells up from the depths of our hearts. "For ONe is truly Holy, by nature Holy: we too are holy, but NOT by nature, ONLY BY PARTICIPATION, AND DISCIPLINE, AND PRAYER." Only Christ, the God Incarnate, has HOLINESS AS HIS ATTRIBUTE. ONLY HE IS WHOLLY HOLY. The Saints receive of His Holiness, through the action of the Holy Spirit: "Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" [John 1:16]. "No one has holiness of himself; IT IS NOT THE CONSEQUENCE OF HUMAN VIRTUE, BUT COMES TO ALL FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM," says Saint Nicholas Cavasilas.

The Saints and the Angels receive from the Holiness of God. "From the Holy One sanctification is transmitted to everyone who is sanctified," says Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki. He also reminds us that "Saint Paul teaches that on the last day it will be declared ‘THAT IN THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BEND…AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER" [Philippians 2:11]. Even as we humbly chant this "disclaimer," we prepare to receive, not in boldness, BUT IN UTTER HUMILITY, IN REALIZATION OF OUR SINFULNESS AND UNWORTHINESS. [Resources:  New Testament and The Heavenly Banquet]

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George