Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. The Holy Priest-Martyr Cyprian; the Holy Martyr Justina; and the Holy Andrew, Fool for the Sake of Christ
2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Matthew 15:21-28
Read 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
It is quite common, even for Christians, to think that holiness conflicts with love. Love involves relationships with others. As today’s reading indicates, holiness, in some sense, involves being separate from others. How are we to be both loving and holy?
By imitating God.
Today’s reading is a synthesis of statements from Exodus and Isaiah that interpret God’s intentions: “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” (Exodus 25:8) “And I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.” (Exodus 29:45)
The purpose of the temple is that God, as He is and ever will be, can have people, as we are, connect with and become ever more like Him. As a connecting point, the temple involves movement on our part. We continue to be the image of God and the world of humanity the object of His love. Yet, we are cracked and broken images, exhibited in the capacity for meanness in our own microcosms and in the horrors of the worldwide macrocosm. What God calls us to move out of isn’t just in others, it is within us.
As we move through the mystery of confession to the mystery of communion and return to the world “in the name of the Lord,” to the extent that we internalize and retain Him we are increasingly transformed and become more of a connecting point with God for others.
And that’s the thing – Him. Holiness means that God will not change (thank God!). Therefore, it also means that when we approach Him to change us in prayer and communion that we do so separating ourselves repeatedly from stuff in us and in our world that isn’t of Him. Increasingly changed, we return to the world to love it as He so does.