We must move on

Though the work of making us holy is entirely God's, He wouldn't do it with out our "co-operation". What does it mean to co-operate with God?. The cooperation progresses from our sincere and ardent desire to be restored into the image and likeness God originally created us to be. Faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God who was sent to redeem us is fundamental. Prayer is a relationship we develop with God. We come to know God through prayer. Prayer dilates our shrunken hearts and makes it more and more capable of knowing God. But at this point, something that surprises us is that we continue to fall in sin despite this growing relationship with God.

And then we sadly realize we have a sinful nature. Concupiscence stares at us with fiery eyes and chuckles. There is this temptation is give up or to live with it. We attempt to develop a theory that allows sin and holiness to dwell together as brothers. If you are you here, we must move on.

We are constantly awakened by the call of Jesus to "Be holy as He is Holy". As Catholics, this is the point where what we have been taking for granted comes to play a vital role. Like the elder brother in the the story of the prodigal son, familiarity and routine have long kept us away from realizing the power of Sacraments and the person of Mary and her role in our sanctification. Also the spiritual exercises the Holy Apostles and Saints of the Catholic Church have transferred down to us.

Sacraments, especially Eucharist and Confession are the means by which God makes us Holy. Confession and Eucharist makes us grow in relationship with God. Our faith will find it's true meaning in the Eucharist. Our prayer will soon be centered in the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. Authentic Catholic faith brings us down from a virtual world of utopian spirituality to a most tangible, practical, everyday experience of relating with God. At the core of it remains " the love relationship" between man and God within His body  - the Church.

Our co-operation is far from complete without the spiritual exercises we must undertake. This involves forcing our will to do that is pleasing to God. It involves a conscious effort to avoid sin, reject sin and hate sin. We must subjugate our will and confirm it to the will of God. Frequent examination of conscience and mortification too are essential elements for co-operating with God in the process of Him making us Holy.

Mary is the sure model for us. She is our Mother. She can can hand hold us as we take our baby steps to holiness to the very end. So is all the Saints whom we are in communion with. Along with Mary and saints we make up the body of Christ, the Church. As members, you and I must be conformed to the likeness of Christ our Head. Let us shout a big yes! allowing God to make us Holy consenting to co-operate with Him in this journey.