Called to be Holy Ep2/Can I really be Holy?

This is part of a 4 part series on the Universal Call to Holiness.

I was talking to some friends recently and the idea of holiness came up in the conversation. A few voiced their concerns and fears with the word itself , it seemed that holiness sounded like an unattainable ideal. I recall one friend particularly voicing her concern "Can I really be holy?" This sincere question stirred me to find the answer to her question and so began an interesting journey with the Holy Father's Gaudete et exsultate.

A quick disclaimer here - I do not usually read Apostolic Exhortations, I'm more of a "30 Days with St Therese" or Fr Jacque Phillipe kind of girl. But I decided to dive into the deep end without much prior preparation. And boy, what treasures did I uncover!

“Each in his or her own way” the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them.

In Gaudete et exsultate. , it is immediately apparent that the call to holiness is universal. Everyone is called to holiness and it all begins with the desire. The desire of holiness will not go unquenched, the Lord desires to satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts. Oftentimes, we fear holiness because we think we need to live up to the ideals of these "perfect" people aka the saints. We think that holiness is unattainable, something far beyond our reach and that we will never bridge this chasm. This causes many of us to become discouraged and to question whether we can even be holy in the first place. We might wonder - "Why would I want something I know that I can never have?" But, why do we think we cannot "reach" holiness? Is it something to be "reached", like the rest of the goals we strive so hard to achieve? Perhaps, we may shift our perspective a little. Holiness may not be an end goal, which we reach one day and then forget about. Maybe holiness is a constant journey - one fraught with struggle and pain, maybe it's an everyday decision made in the smallest things. Maybe holiness starts with loving the people around us, as Christ loves them, even when it pains our heart, even when we feel our hearts stretched to their limits.

Herein lies a possible secret to crack the code of this unworthiness we feel. We feel we will never be holy, because we cannot measure up to the "standards" that have been seemingly set by the saints - yet the Lord reminds us aptly that each of us are on our own unique path to Him. We are situated within unique circumstances and it is hopeless to want to imitate something that is not meant for us. The lives of the saints provide a testimony - but that is what is is, a testament to what God can do in lives if we let Him. A testimony is not a blueprint or a manual for the rest of us. It directs our hearts and provides encouragement to us - reminding us that holiness is something we can and should desire for, because hey, look at how the lives of these holy men and women were transformed!

The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence. The call to holiness is present in various ways from the very first pages of the Bible. We see it expressed in the Lord’s words to Abraham: “Walk before me, and be blameless” (Gen 17:1).

Holiness therefore is not necessarily something out of our reach. Nor does it mean we will live a boring life devoid of fun. On the contrary, when we learn to surrender our will and intellect (Take everything O Lord... channeling my inner St Ignatius) , He offers us something priceless - He offers us the happiness which He created us for. We were not meant to find lasting joy in the pursuits of this world, our hearts are restless O Lord, until they rest in you (St Augustine). As I write this, I can't help but quote my beloved St John Paul II "Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." We are not made to settle for a life of fleeting happiness, of empty souls and hearts. We are imprinted with the desire for holiness, and yes, despite our anxieties and disbelief, He calls you and me out on the waters into the depths. He calls each and everyone of us to holiness for He desires to consume us with His divine love and to call us into a life of fullness. Trust me, the pursuit of holiness may not be an easy one, but it will be one of the greatest adventures you embark on, for our ultimate destination is Heaven!