| When I think of holiness I think of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, truly, the Holy Family. They are the
holiest examples to walk this earth who God could bless us with.
God, in his great love and plan for salvation of the world, chose St. Joseph to be the spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and the foster father of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. What holiness St. Joseph must have been graced with to be chosen by God for this mission! What a deep faith and intimate relationship with God Joseph must have had to hear the call to this great mission, to say “Yes", then trust and follow. I can only imagine how Joseph must have continued to grow in holiness day by day,
living alongside Jesus and Mary, two holy and sinless people.
Who have been the greatest living examples of holiness in your life? For me, I would say my mother, who was called to be a wife and mother of 13 children, and my godmother, who was called to the single life. Both were called to drastically different lives, but both showed me the examples of living a holy and faithful life in so many ways. I count myself very blessed that God placed them in my life. I know, in part, they are the reason I am who I am on my spiritual journey today.
Made in the image and likeness of God, each and every one of us is called to holiness, no matter what life God is calling us to. We are not simply called to be good, we are called to be holy. “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly
Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). A tall task, right? I have to believe that if God is calling us to this then it is possible, but only with Him. The thing is, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey, and we never stop growing in holiness when we fix our eyes on the Lord. If we lean on God in all circumstances, seeking to do
God’s will every day, like St. Joseph and those beautiful examples of faith and holiness in our lives, we will continue to grow in holiness too.
As Christians, we are not only called to grow in holiness, but we are also called to help others grow in holiness. The beautiful thing is that while we are helping others grow, we also continue to grow ourselves. God is amazing that way!
During this Advent Season, as we prepare our hearts for CHRISTmas, let us remember that the greatest gift we can give to God, our family and others, is to grow in holiness, and be an example, as the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is an example to us all.
This reflection is written by Elizabeth Garn, Program Coordinator
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