HOLY
The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them: ‘Be HOLY, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.’
If you set yourself the task of reading the Bible from cover to cover, you could be forgiven for losing enthusiasm when you get the book of Leviticus. At first sight, Leviticus reads as a complex handbook of rituals and ways of living which our far removed from our present day experience. It’s possible, however, to use one verse as a hermeneutical key and so find a way into the text: Love thy neighbour as thyself (Leviticus 19:18). You might have assumed that this comes from the New Testament, but it comes from Ch 17-27, known as the Holiness Code.
The careful details of the sacrificial system, the food laws and purity laws all have one goal and that is unity and LOVE. Leviticus is edited and shaped into its final form during the period of the Exile. This was a period of soul searching and dislocation for the Israelites. Faced with the feeling of confusion as to what the covenantal promises could possibly mean now, the Priestly circle of writers outline a code that is intended to safeguard love and restore hope. The Israelites are invited to image God: Be HOLY, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. This is possible for them through love of neighbour and a willingness to direct every part of their lives towards God.
All healthy societies have codes of behaviour and rituals. Our biblical ancestors were not unusual, or burdened, as some commentators suggest. The keeping of the law brings freedom. The Psalmist can say that the law is ‘honey in the mouth’, it gives ‘light for my path’ and ‘freedom to my heart’.
The message of Leviticus is that holiness is within our grasp. God invites us to be intentional in every part of our lives. Lent then is a time for looking at all the parts of our lives and seeing how best to integrate them. This can bring us wholeness and holiness.
How is God calling you to wholeness and holiness this Lent?
(Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18, Monday, First Week of Lent)