Our Common Vocation

First Friday Mass
January 5, 2008
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
John 1:35-42

“To live a holy life is to be holy just as God is holy” writes St John in the first reading today. Holiness is our main calling in life, holiness is our vocation. We may be different in state of life: married, single, religious and priest, yet God has only one invitation to each one of us – to be holy.

There is a document in the Second Vatican Council called Lumen Gentium. In chapter five of this document the Council Fathers stated the call to holiness of every Christians. They said, Christians in whatever state of life they belong are “called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love” (LG 39).

What is to be holy? Is being good and nice person or in Aussie slang “a fair dinkum bloke” holiness? Is being respectful, nature lover, just and friendly be called holiness?

There is a difference between natural goodness and holiness. An atheist person, a non-believer, a philosopher, a non-Christian, a philanthropist or anyone can be a nice and good moral person to eyes of many but it doesn’t mean such person is holy. Because holiness requires more than good qualities; holiness is not just an attitude or a philosophy of moral goodness.

Holiness gradually develops into the heart of the person as a result of an intimate relationship with God in the person of Jesus. In the Gospel today, John divert his disciples’ attention to Jesus, he said, “Look, there is the lamb of God.” What follows was a conversation with Jesus. Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi” – which means Teacher. They asked Jesus “where do you live?” and he replied “Come and see.” They stayed at the place of Jesus and to cut the long story short one two became the very first disciple of Jesus, and his name was St Andrew, our very own patron saint.

Holiness is a journey. As followers of Jesus we are all in a journey to holiness. When were baptised we began that journey and we were established among the People of God to become one body of Christ. We participate in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. This means journey to holiness requires us to take part in the Eucharist, to share the word of God and to do pastoral care for the people.

As we begin the year 2008 let us pray that our fellow Christians in all walks of life those in the world of business, politics, hospitals, factories, markets, and so on may take part faithfully to God’s call to holiness so that we may all contribute to the sanctification of the world according to the Gospel. In this Mass, let us pray for the grace that we may begin this task first of all, by making ourself holy.