Ordinary Time 
Pause
Let’s share a breath prayer. Three beats on the inhale, thinking, “God is holy.”
Hold one beat, thinking, “And.”
Exhale for three beats, thinking, “I am holy.”
Try it three times! “God is holy – and – I am holy.”
Listen
The Lord said to Moses, Say to the whole community of the Israelites: You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:1-2
Think
What does the word holy mean to you? For some people it conjures up images of people like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Dorothy Day. We may think about nuns living in a monastery or hermits dwelling in caves. It may be tempting to imagine that you have to be perfect to pursue holiness, but this is not true. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things! God takes imperfect yet willing people and shares great love, justice, and peace throughout the earth.
Today, we hear the words, “You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Must is a strong word, isn’t it? It shows us that holiness is not a choice. Thanks be to God that we can ask God’s Holy Spirit to help us be like Jesus. We can’t pursue holiness alone, but with God, all things are possible!
Yolanda Denson-Byers
Question to Ponder:
Who is a holy person in your life?
Pray
Jesus, I want to be like you. I know that I am not perfect, but you are. Help me to grow more and more like you every single day. Amen.
Go
As you go about your day, intentionally seek opportunities to be more like Jesus. How can you increase your love, care, or gentleness toward others? Make it your goal to practice one random act of kindness today.
