Called to be holy: God will help us

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Kiley Hackl

When I first read the second reading for this Sunday, I thought it kind of silly. The reading is only two verses long and most of it is Paul's greeting to the church of Corinth.

I thought to myself, now why would the church choose this short reading to be read on a Sunday? But, when I read it again, it hit me - BAM - right between the eyes. Paul says "to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy . . ." Right there it is, called to be holy! Holy! I am called to be holy! And sometimes that can be hard.

I have been married for just three months. Before we were married, my husband and I heard a talk that mentioned that spouses are called to lead one another to heaven.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jan. 16, 2005) Is 49:3, 5-6 Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 1 Cor 1:1-3 Jn 1:29-34

What a beautiful way to look at marriage. But I also thought what an awesome responsibility that was. Not only must we help to make one another better people, but with that we must do our best to lead one another to heaven!

Most of the time our marriage is great, but there are those times when we argue and disagree. And sometimes we argue about things that we see in each other that we need to work on ourselves.

And, boy, does my pride get in the way when my husband tells me something about myself that I already know, but do not like to admit. Recently my husband pointed something out to me - the way I don't always communicate in a loving way.

I immediately became defensive. Instead of really thinking about what he said, and thanking him for making me aware of my actions, I make matters worse by not wanting to talk about an issue that I know is true. I didn't want to admit to it.

My defensiveness did not make the situation any better, but only led to anger and annoyance. The situation could easily have been resolved if I put my pride aside and took a moment to reflect on what my husband said, and admitted he is right. (Okay, it does eventually happen, but it takes me time to let my pride be broken and tell him I will try to work on how I communicate with him.)

	Reflection questions • Do I refuse to listen to advice from those who might draw me closer to holiness? • Do I take on the responsibility of helping those I love grow in holiness? • Who, in my life, is leading me to heaven?

The reason my husband points things out to me is because he loves me and he wants me to be a better person, a holier person. It's the same thing with Christ. Christ has sanctified us and called us to be holy.

It's tough to change and admit our faults, but as Paul also writes, "grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." God will give us the grace we need each day to become holier, so that we may become closer to him.

Kiley Hackl is a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she was active in several ministries at St. Paul University Catholic Center. She now works as an registered nurse in the Cincinnati area, where she recently moved to live with her new husband.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

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