Holiness Is As Holiness Does

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

3 “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

4 “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.

5 “‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the LORD; they must be cut off from their people.

9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

11 “‘Do not steal.

“‘Do not lie.

“‘Do not deceive one another.

12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.

14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.

17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.

18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:1-18, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
In a world that constantly changes, shifts, upgrades, and downsizes, we sense a merging in preparation of a world where scarcity becomes the new paradigm. 

The clarion call from the writer of the Old Testament text is, “Be holy.” Holy—a word that goes unheard among the clanging noise of the gong and tinkling cymbals of our world’s antics. 

What does it mean to be "holy"? The word "holy" is a translation of the Hebrew word "qadash," which means "to consecrate, dedicate, sanctify." The God of Israel embodies this meaning; therefore, those who worship this holy God are to reflect that characteristic in their living. 

Moses, God’s hand-selected leader of the people of Israel, issues this message, which the nation is to hear as a mandate. Their mission is to be a people "called out" and "set apart" as God’s representatives. This people will enter a new land free from their bondage. The new land will bring new expectations. God’s holiness will become evident in Israel’s obedience. 

These verses invite us to reflect on our daily walk of faith. How does our living reflect our obedience to a God of holiness? How do we attempt to restrict God’s will and power through our inattention to holiness? We may respond: "Who’s calling us to accountability? Who cares if we live in a holy way? Isn’t holy something we do in church? Isn’t that enough?"

Yet God’s call to live lives of radical obedience comes to us. The choice is ours. That call emphasizes the critical connection between holiness and obedience. We can move beyond the sphere of the common to the place of the sacred. 

............

Holiness calls for radical change. We move beyond merely stating that we are holy because God is holy by actually living in this countercultural way. We can easily declare our sanctity; enacting it becomes more difficult—especially in a world with such a wide chasm between the wealthy and the economically disenfranchised. 

The harvest provision notes an important aspect of Israel’s ethical tradition. The gleanings of fields and vineyards are to be left deliberately for the poor and the sojourner. This economic requirement, which costs the farmer, is an act of social justice. We may pontificate about our generosity when our "fields" are flourishing. Even then we may assert that these fields belong to us—but we’re expected to leave behind grain and grapes for the poor traveler? Holiness and obedience to a holy God require that we leave gleanings for people we do not know or choose to know. How easily we allow our holier-than-thou attitudes to prohibit the holy will of God for our lives. 

Obedience issues in the desire to do God’s will. The request does not entail a handout to the wayside traveler; it entails leaving food in the field so that the wanderer does not have to become a beggar. God provides and invites our participation in the providing. 

.............

We acknowledge that living a holy life involves more than a simple affirmation or fair treatment of the poor and less fortunate; it is a call to transformation. 

No longer can we simply view the condition of others, offer a helping hand, and believe that we have done our part. God is inviting us into relationship and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. 

Today’s scripture probably calls to mind those parameters we call the Ten Commandments: Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not deal falsely. These are no fly-by-night requests. The Lord commands that the change in our lives extends to others—not only to our loved ones but to our workplace colleagues and those in our neighborhoods. The change includes our actions, reactions, and inactions. Partiality and favoritism drop out of the equation; retaliation and grudge-holding are not tolerated. 

Today’s scripture raises concern about the well-being of the economically disadvantaged (those who are oppressed) and the physically disadvantaged (those who are subject to abuse). Our relationship to a holy God manifests in our caring relationship to and concern for others—dealing fairly with all people. "Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly" (verse 15). 

Notice the repeated words after each prohibition: "I am the LORD." God’s character is made manifest in God’s people. So we have work to do—personal, confrontational, and unavoidable. Often we want to choose our "holy," but today’s scripture lays out clear guidelines. God’s people must desire holiness; we cannot choose our "holy." 


PRAYER:
Gracious God, would you gently move us beyond our tendency to compromise. By your grace, lead us to a place of resolution. Help us to set aside self-defeating attitudes and learn to share with the poor and forgotten. You are a holy God. We, as your people, are called to be holy, as well. Empower us to surrender our will to yours, for in so doing we know you will teach us to love our neighbor and to live a holy life.