The word holy describes someone or something as pure, consecrated, or set apart for a special (usually religious) use, according to dictionary.com. It can also mean having a godly character, being pious, or reverential. The word was “First recorded before 900; Middle English holi, Old English hālig, variant of hāleg, equivalent to hāl whole …” Philosopher Alan Watts wrote, “A holy person is someone who is whole; who, as it were, reconciles his opposites.” The word implies a sense of completeness, harmony, and wellbeing as well as sanctity. The holy person is still human, but there is a consistency about them, as the internal values are reflected outwardly.
Holy can be used as an exclamation instead of swearing, such as in “Holy Moly!” The word can also be used to mean extreme, as in “Her two-year-old is a holy terror when he does not take a nap.” The word holy is the root of the word holiday, and we are now entering the holiday season. Many traditions and cultures use the word holy in different ways, ways which offer us an opportunity to dig a bit deeper in our interpretation of it.
Most of the time, holy is a word associated with God and church. The idea of holiness is present in all religions. Jews, Hindus, Buddhist, and Christian scholars who study the wisdom of their scriptures not only conform to the sacred traditions of their respective groups, but also align their spirit with their deity to achieve holiness. For them, relationship with their God is the key factor in attaining moral consistency. Hindu teacher, Swami Sivananda wrote, “Dharma (their spiritual law) is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity. If you protect it, it will protect you.” There is surprising overlap in how different religions view holiness and morality.
Holy people are viewed as special, saintly, and pure. Many believe holiness is reserved for people like monks, The Dalai Lama, Pope Leo, and Mother Teresa. Holy is a word that attracts people yearning for goodness and constancy.With all the incivility, injustice, inequality, and violence in our world, many have become cynical about having rules or guidelines to promote morality, community, or goodwill. They are more concerned with their own survival. They point to the scandals and abuse of clergy and say that the church is filled with hypocrites. Add all the salacious news and social media stories about public figures which are broadcast regularly and many feel that it is not possible for any human being to stay on the “straight and narrow way.” This may generally be true.
However, I contend that all of life is sacred.
In the Christian tradition, the world originated as a thing of beauty, function, and goodness. The elements of earth, wind, water and fire were made for standing, ventilating, refreshing, and warmth. The vegetation and animal life had a purpose for food, medicine and beauty. Man and woman were made to accompany each other, reproduce, maintain and cultivate the earth. God, the Holy One, Our Maker, declared that all these things were “good.” Then a special time was designated to rest from all activity. Even the leisure time (sabbath rest) was sacred. There is not so great a distance between the holy and common use, between the sacred and secular.
We were made to reflect the Creator (and His holiness) by showing light and love to others in this broken and needy world. Holiness stems from our relationship with our God. It is not an external trait but the internal motivation for our actions. Pope John Paul II said, “Christian holiness does not mean being sinless, but rather it means struggling not to give in and always getting up after every fall.” The Pope was a survivor of the Nazi occupation in Poland, and his scholarly work contributed to modernizing attitudes about God, the church and humanity. He is now considered one of several great popes.
Becoming holy is a process.
It is a daily commitment to spend time with God by praying, meditating, and studying the teachings that guide us on the right path. As we internalize the love and reverence we have for God, most want to find a way to express that love through good works or generosity of some kind. Because each person is different, their path will be different. We must allow each person to find their way.
I believe each person has a spark of the divine within them.
That spark can be kindled with the careful nurturing of their hearts and minds through their own spiritual practice. This is a more rigorous practice than we realize. It requires self-discipline and self-examination, but the time we spend on ourselves with God will purify our motivations and produce the holiness that will reflect the character of God and draw others to find their own purpose on this Earth. May we find our path to holiness so that we may fulfill our best purpose today.
