Lv 19: 1-2, 11-18
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.
You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Invitation to Be Holy
There are a lot of words in today’s readings, a lot of do’s and don’ts. As I reflected though, I found myself going back again and again to just nine in the reading from Leviticus. “Be holy . . . . . love your neighbor as yourself.” My mind first asked, What does it mean to be holy? I soon found the answer in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It seems like it should be pretty simple, but oftentimes I think it is difficult. It can be difficult because we have trouble loving ourselves. But we are created “from love, of love, for love” (as stated in the paraphrase of the First Principle and Foundation by Jacqueline Bergan and Marie Schwan, CSJ). Who are we not to love ourselves and then follow through with loving others – all of whom are created from, of and for the same love. How is the Lord inviting you to be holy today?
—Amy Hoover is a spiritual director and the Director of Adult Ministry at the Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford.
Prayer
Lord, my God
When your love spilled over into creation
You thought of me.
I am from Love, of Love, for Love.
Let my heart, O God, always recognize, cherish and enjoy
Your goodness in all of creation.
Direct all that is me toward your praise.
Teach me reverence for every person, all things.
Energize me in your service.
Lord God, may nothing ever distract me from your love.
Neither health nor sickness,
wealth nor poverty
honor nor dishonor
long life or short life.
May I never seek, nor choose to be
Other than you intend or wish.
—First Principle and Foundation, paraphrased by Jacqueline Bergan and Marie Schwan, CSJ