First Reading - Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18
Gospel - Matthew 25:31-46
The first reading extends an invitation to a life of holiness. The Hebrew word for holiness, qadesh, means "to be set apart for God and His purpose"—in other words, to belong to God. Repeatedly, God calls His people to imitate His holiness by overcoming the barriers that prevent us from loving Him and our brothers and sisters. The passage given to us for reflection focuses on how we are to show love to one another. God instructs Moses to lay out guidelines for holiness, emphasizing love for fellow Jews by providing for the poor, treating workers fairly, and avoiding vengeance. Many of these commands are similar to the Ten Commandments, but they are more explicit and positive in their wording. Instead of "Thou shalt not," they encourage concrete actions that uphold justice, truth, and love. For example, "Thou shalt not steal" is expanded to include paying fair wages on time, and "Thou shalt not lie" highlights the importance of avoiding slander, especially within one’s own family. Another key teaching is the responsibility to correct and guide one another with honesty and courage.
The guidelines for holiness given by Moses serve to remind us that true holiness is revealed in our love, concern, and justice toward others. This same message is echoed in the Gospel, where Jesus teaches that our belonging to God is demonstrated in how we treat our brothers and sisters. He gives us a glimpse of the Last Judgment, emphasizing that we will be judged based on the love we have shown to those in need. Jesus also implicitly refers to the creation story, where humanity is made in the image and likeness of God. This highlights the sacred dignity of every person—meaning that any mistreatment of another is, in effect, a mistreatment of God Himself.
Dear friends, holiness is not something limited to our prayers in the chapel or church; it must be reflected in the way we live our daily lives. The Gospel and the first reading clearly show that indifference, selfishness, and lack of love toward others are obstacles to holiness and salvation. Acts of cruelty, injustice, and immorality go against the very essence of our call to holiness.
Our true belonging to God is expressed through kindness, generosity, love, compassion, and justice toward others. These virtues deepen our awareness of God’s presence in our lives and in those around us. Holiness is not just an abstract ideal—it is a way of life that finds favor with God. As Jesus says in the Gospel, the righteous will one day hear the words: "Come, you whom my Father has blessed."
Let us pray that we may grow in holiness each day.
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