The Weapon for the Pursuit of Holiness

            As God’s children in the pursuit of holiness we wonder what it takes to be pure in the midst of this chaotic world. God says that King David is a man after his own heart and then he asks an important question. “How can young people keep their way pure?” He then answers it saying “By guarding it according to your word.” Psalm 119:9.

            In this pursuit of holiness, in the narrow path, we take many detours towards the wide path and then come back  following Christ. Jesus tells us very clearly by these words that “you go wrong because you neither know the scriptures nor the power of God” Matthew 22:29.

God again says that “be holy as I am holy”. God our Father who asks us to be perfect also gave us the manuscript of perfection  – The Holy bible.

            King David says that “Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” Psalms 119:105-106. The Holy Bible is the only book that can lead us in the right path in every situation of our life.

                         

            The one who leads us away from God is none other than the Devil and Saint Paul tells us “...Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13

            Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. There is not one warrior in the annals of history that had gone out to fight without his sword and so we as followers of Christ, should be well equipped with the word of God to continue walking through the narrow paths following Christ. Jesus himself is our best example. When he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he uses the word of God to subdue him and to glorify his Father though he was famished and weak. Matthew 4:1-11

            “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1. Jesus who is the Word was made flesh and prayed to his Father “…Sanctify them in the truth; your word is the truth. John 17:17 Thus the word of God has a purifying effect in our lives.

            The Holy Spirit who is our counselor, guides us primarily through the Word of God. Just glancing through it will not help us but rather we need to meditate on it. As the bible says; “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9

            This confirms that only when we meditate on the word in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church, day and night will we be able to act in accordance with what is written in it. This is just the reason why King David says “I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10. Then comes the most important question for people who are serious in their spiritual life “How to meditate on the Word of God?” This link is a good place to start http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/ .

            I would like to conclude by saying “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” Matthew 7:24-27

The word of God also says; “… Be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves- in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.” James 1:22:25

            Let us not just meditate on the word as a book of great wisdom but let us bring it to life by living the word and thereby being a blessing to ourselves and to those in our lives.