There are many words used in religious corners that are not regularly used in our daily lives, and “holy” is certainly one of those words. But have you ever considered what it means to be holy? What about if you are a person of no religious faith at all? Does the word “holy” even apply to your way of thinking at all?
For many people, holy is a synonym for “perfect.” They envision someone walking around with a halo sparkling above their heads indicating the degree of their personal holiness, or they use the word “saint” to describe someone who they perceive as being somehow flawless. Interestingly, if one digs deeper, it is easy to see how we overlay a lot of perfectionism on a term that was never meant to indicate perfection at all!
We have all heard the phrase “walking on holy ground” or we have heard of religious items such as crosses, beads or chalices being called holy. It is easy to consider our iconic leaders as holy … Jesus, Muhammed, the Buddha. Their teachings are all still being followed hundreds of years after their deaths, so they must be holy, right?
But the word “holy” can also mean devoted to God or to God’s work in the world. It can mean “set apart.” It can mean “dedicated to God’s purposes,” which can also mean we are living life in the way the Spirit intends … in right relationship with others, with deep compassion and meeting the needs of those around us in the ways that are possible.
None of what I just shared is at all about being perfect. Instead, it is about being present and prepared to use your gifts as needed. Holiness isn’t about never making a mistake, nor is it about being less human and more God-like. Instead, being holy is about being more of the person God created you to be!
You don’t have to be a monk and isolate yourself on some hilltop meditating for hours each day to be holy. You don’t have to spend a decade in religious education in order to be holy. You don’t have to build orphanages in third world countries to be holy either.
Holiness isn’t about escaping “real life,” but it can be about living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. Speaking kindly to the cashier at the grocery store, then putting your grocery cart in the corral is more effort on an ordinary day than some people will put in. Complimenting those you encounter, giving a little sacrificially from time to time or taking even a few minutes each day to reconnect with your Creator are holy acts. Note that these acts are not earth-shattering or even particularly noteworthy, and none of them are performed from a place of ego, but rather from a holy place of devotion to bringing a little light into the darker places you encounter. Those dark places may not be as obvious as a pitch-black cave, but a person filled with self-doubt who receives a compliment may feel lifted out of their internal darkness. Someone who is struggling to feed their children may feel a halo of light exists above the head of the anonymous person who donated to the local food pantry. We can feel uplifted and lightened by a few minutes spent in prayer or meditation as we more personally encounter the Sacred for a few moments each day.
Holiness is less about appearing perfectly religious, and is more about allowing God’s love, through you, to be more visible in everyday life. If you are secular in nature, it can be about letting the Universe work through you or making a conscious decision to serve your fellow humans. After all, it doesn’t take church membership to nudge you to call your lonely neighbor, to be honest when no one is watching, or to be forgiving even when it doesn’t feel “deserved.” Those may be religious tenets taught each Sunday in spacious sanctuaries, but the religious world certainly doesn’t own them, and many a humanist or atheist performs “holy acts” if they still serve others.
In fact, if one looks at the wider meaning of the word “holy,” and decides that it can also mean “living a life that reflects God’s character,” then we might be surprised to find a large number of secular folks could be classified as being holy, even if they prefer not to view themselves as “belonging to God.”
Most important to remember, however you elect to interpret it, the word “holy” is not a replacement for “perfect,” and each of us carries a little of the holy around inside of us, regardless of what we call it.
Athol Congregational Church, UCC is a local community of faith that is “small enough to know you, large enough to serve.” We celebrate in-person worship as well as offer Facebook livestream services under “Athol Congregational Videos.” Our pastors and members are available for conversation on our Athol Congregational Church Facebook page, and through private messages. We would love to connect. We offer long-distance Reiki through our certified practitioners. We are willing to pray with you, and want to know you, whoever you are. We are located at 1225 Chestnut St. and can be reached at 978-249-6202.