Holiness
The holiness
of the Church
During each
and every celebration of the Divine Liturgy, we, as the people of God, recite
the Nicene Creed. This ancient declaration is the very core of our common
faith, and connects us to the teachings of the Ancient Church. In this creed we
declare that we believe in "The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
Church". The word "holy" is something we often fail to see as
having anything to do with us, personally. The Church is holy, but we are not,
we tell ourselves. Yet the first Christians called themselves "the
holy", precisely because they knew the Holy Spirit was in their midst,
sanctifying the Church. They knew they were not simply members of a religious
body, but that they WERE the Church.
Because the
Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church, they, as members of the Body of
Christ, were
sanctified, even if they often fell short of the Glory of God. But how could
the Church be holy when she so often experiences moments of darkness, and when
even her priests and bishops fall short the standards set forth in the Gospels?
How can we call the Church holy, when we are all such sinners?
The Church is
holy because her founder is holy, and because Christ has never abandoned His
Church. The Church is holy because she is guided by the Holy Spirit. She is
holy because she is always being purified and transformed anew, by the Holy
Spirit. The Church is not holy because of anything we have done, but because
God has made her holy.
If the
holiness of the Church was dependent upon her people, most of us would have to
be banned from membership. Yet this very holiness is based upon the fact that
the Church does not turn away we sinners, but welcomes us with open arms.
Because of the great mercy of God, and His tender love for us, we enter the
very threshold of the Church with the expectation we will receive healing and
forgiveness. It is within the boundaries of the Church that even the weakest of
sinners can become holy, for holiness is the destiny of every Christian. Every
Christian is called to holiness because our weakness is overcome by the
strength of God's mercy. It is not about living extraordinary lives, but about
being transformed by an extraordinary God.
With love in
the Risen Lord Jesus Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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