A Reflection on Holiness

In biblical terms, holiness is a state of being set apart from the world, a state of moral purity, being dedicated to God, his wisdom, and his ways before those of the world. Holiness bears characteristics like humility, loving welcome, self-discipline, peace, and faithfulness. Jesus’ standard for holiness is seen in his commandment to us in John 15:12, “My commandment is this; love one another, just as I love you.” These are not the standards of the world. Indeed, a reflection on holiness, seems to many today, a rather esoteric, even absurd concept.

Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was a Vietnamese bishop who was imprisoned for thirteen years by the communist government at the end of the Vietnam War. During that time he could secretly send prayers and spiritual writings out of the prison. In one of those writings from his prison cell, he reflected on the idea of holiness and his thoughts are powerful reminders or challenges for us to reflect on in our lives here and now.

Here are some of his thoughts on the matter. The standards of the world are based on several things: power, riches, university degrees, and admiration, but holiness contradicts these things and goes against the grain. For example, instead of power, those who are holy rely on God’s omnipotence, rather than on their own perceived powers. The person who pursues and practices holiness finds fulfillment and joy in God’s abundant gifts of grace rather than wealth, riches, or materialistic pursuits. While university degrees are practical and good, they are not an end in themselves. For example, they do not necessarily pass on wisdom. Holiness does not deny the formal or practical good of education but recognizes and pursues the wisdom of God which the world cannot offer. And, finally, one who is holy does not need or desire the world’s admiration, only the love of God.

Bishop Nguyen Van Thuan wrote: “Holiness is not the passive presence of God in a person, but God’s life and action in that person. Holiness is a human life filled with God, the most beautiful life possible.” Of course, all of this is related to the role of faith in a person’s life. Faith is not passive either, it is an activity. It is less of an intellectual judgment and more of a personal commitment. It is a decision. It is not something imposed on us. And this decision, this choice belongs to all of us. It is our decision, no one else’s.

Faith is the source and the strength behind our growing desire to be holy in a world that defies holiness in so many countless ways. The Letter to the Hebrews addresses this aspect of faith very clearly and directly. In chapter 10, the writer counsels his readers to remember when they had been “enlightened” and how, because of their conversion, they had to endure great suffering, being exposed to abuse, and how they shared in each other’s trials, loss of propert,y and so on. Then he admonishes them: “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence (faith); it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised…We are not among those who draw back and perish but among those who have faith and will possess life” (Heb. 10:35-36 & 39).

Because holiness contradicts the values of the world, it is responded to by the worldly with everything from ridicule to intolerance, from hate to outright attempts to crush it. So those who want to pursue holiness in the world must have a courage far greater than that of a warrior going to war. For us to love others as Jesus loves us means that we must be able to take all of the world’s indifference or outright hate with patient endurance, but we must also be able to forgive our persecutors with the same magnanimous love that he shows all of us on the Cross. To desire God and his holiness, and to do his will in this world, requires the profound courage of faith. God responds to such faith with grace upon grace. Thanks be to God!