Reflection: Holiness According to the Teachings of Jesus

As we reflect on the beautiful vocation that the Lord Jesus gives to each of us: the call to holiness. When Jesus says in the Gospel, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48), He is not demanding a perfection that comes from our own strength. Rather, He is inviting us to share in the very holiness of God, a holiness that is love without limit.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (CCC 2013). This means holiness is not only for priests, or religious sisters, or the saints whose names we know. It is for every one of us: mothers and fathers, workers, students, the young and the elderly. By baptism, we belong to Christ, and Christ Himself lives in us.

But what is holiness in practice? It is allowing our daily lives to be touched by God’s grace. Holiness is not about doing extraordinary things; it is about doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. A kind word to a neighbor, patience with a child, forgiveness given to someone who has hurt us, generosity toward the poor—these are the small steps of holiness.

The Sacraments are at the heart of this journey. In the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Himself, who strengthens us to live His love. In Confession, we receive His mercy, which lifts us up when we fall. Prayer, too, keeps our hearts united to Him throughout the day.

God’s will for us is clear: He wants us to be holy. And holiness is not far from us—it is as close as our next act of love. Holiness is saying “yes” to God in the present moment.

Let us then, dear brothers and sisters, not be afraid of this call. The saints remind us that holiness is possible because it is God who makes us holy. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux once taught, holiness consists in doing small things with great love.

So today, let us ask the Lord: “Make me holy, not for myself, but so that your light may shine through me for others.” And let us trust that, step by step, in our families, in our work, in our parish, we can live out the will of God: that we be holy as He is holy.

On holiness according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus and a practical application for daily life.

Reflection: Holiness According to the Lord Jesus

Holiness, in the words of Jesus, is nothing less than the invitation to share in the very life of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). This is not a perfectionism of human effort alone but a call to love as the Father loves—without measure, without exclusion, and with mercy at the center. Holiness is, therefore, not primarily about separation from the world, but about living in it with the heart and mind of Christ.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms this universal call:

• CCC 2013: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.”

• CCC 2014: Holiness is made possible by the gift of God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Holiness is not a privilege reserved for a few saints in heaven. It is the vocation of every baptized person (CCC 2813). To be holy is to allow Christ to live in us, as St. Paul says: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

The Will of the Lord

The will of the Lord is that we live in communion with Him, imitating His love and becoming witnesses of His mercy in the world. Jesus prays in John 17 that His disciples may be sanctified in truth and united in love. God’s will is not simply that we follow rules, but that our whole being is transformed by grace, conformed to Christ, and radiates His holiness to others.

Practical Idea for Daily Life

A practical way to live out this universal call to holiness is to embrace the “little way” of daily fidelity and charity:

• Begin the day with a short prayer of offering: “Lord, today I offer you my thoughts, words, and actions. Make me holy in them.”

• Practice holiness not in extraordinary feats but in ordinary acts—patience with a coworker, forgiveness of an offense, helping a family member, or showing kindness to a stranger.

• Root your life in the Sacraments: frequent participation in the Eucharist and Reconciliation strengthens us in the path of holiness (CCC 1324, 1426).

• End the day with an examen, asking: “Where did I love as Christ loved today, and where did I fail?” This cultivates humility and openness to God’s mercy.

Holiness is lived not in isolation but in communion—family, parish, and community are all places where God calls us to grow. As the CCC reminds us, holiness is the perfection of love (caritas), which always leads us outward toward God and neighbor.