Scripture Reflection for May 27, 2008

Scripture: Eighth Tuesday in Ordinary Time, May 27, 2008. I Peter 1:10-16.
Psalm 98:1-4. Mark 10:28-31. Lectionary # 348:

Each day we hear God's call that we are to be holy and wholesome
people. The Vatican II conciliar docurment on the Church says there is a
universal call to holiness, so it is not reserved to those who are Saints
with a capital letter. Each one of us has the potential to be a saint,
albeit, with a small letter! The first epistle of St. Peter is about the
universal call to holiness through baptism. We have seen in the opening
lines a mention of the three great virtues of faith, hope, and love. Today
it becomes clear that these virtues lead us to be wholesom and holy
persons. We hear or read this call: "become holy yourselves in every
aspect of your conduct, after the likeness of the holy One who called you.
Remember, Scripture says, "Be holy, for I am holy." We were called in the
priestly tradition of Genesis chapter one to live in holiness for we are
made in the image and likeness of God. I Peter is simply building on this
original call in what we hear and read throughout its pages. The focus of
course is for Christians on the foundation in Baptism as our initial
commencement on the road to holiness. We learn from the tradition that
those called to vowed life are said to embark on a second baptismal
commitment. We are not to lose our individual personalities in this call
but to go one step farther in deepening our image and likeness to that of
the One Holy God who calls us. As the Psalm Response indicates this is how
God makes known his salvation to us.
In the Gospel Peter again takes the initiative to ask Jesus what he
and the apostles will have as a reward for having left all things to follow
Jesus as their Lord and teacher. He expects something special and Jesus
does say that all kinds of graces and gifts will be there for those who
become disciples in the radical way that Jesus is preaching. What seems to
be given up is in reality the way toward having more in the spiritual
realm. Peter will receive these gifts but also a share in the suffering
and death that Jesus will undergo for the sake of the kingdom. Persecution
and martyrdom will follow for most of the apostles and disciples who follow
Jesus. What about us who do not undergo what these original apostles have
experienced? We too will be given gifts that we use within our callings as
individuals and participants in a community of faith. Certainly, like
Peter we seek rewards from God. God is never outdone in generosity and we
will receive those graces that help us to be paticipants in the holiness of
life that God calls each of ut to live. Patient endurances is necessary as
well as a daily faithfulness to making sure we are truly images and
likenesses of God. The epistle assures us by telling us we have such hope
based on our firm faith and lived out in our love for our brothers and
sisters. Amen.