Satisfaction

So what is holiness? Well, in my last post, Mother Angelica told us that it's not perfection. So what IS it?

WHOLLY SATISFIED

Our Lord said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness, they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6). Today what is holiness? Holiness is that image of Jesus in your heart that shines on your face and tells your neighbor that there is more to come, and it's better than this life. It makes you so free that you can laugh at the world and what it has to offer. Others look at you and ask, "What do you have? I want it."

-Mother Angelica, LITTLE BOOK of LIFE LESSONS and EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY

"Holiness is that image of Jesus in your heart that shines on your face and tells your neighbor that there is more to come, and it's better than this life." I highlighted that in my book. I love that and I read it over and over. It all comes back to the love that we have for Jesus and allowing that love we have for Him to shine through in our lives. How do we do that? By living like He lived, by letting Him do His work through us. If you think of it this way, it really makes me feel free because I really don't have as much control over my life as I thought. And if it's God that has control, then I'm OK with that!

The Look of Holiness

In lieu of the upcoming New Year, I have more thoughts to share. After I put the kids in bed for their afternoon nap, I sat down with Mother Angelica to learn more. And it just so happens that her nuggets of info can be directly applied to the New Year. Oftentimes when we create New Year's resolutions, we look towards being a better person: losing weight, being kinder, not yelling so much, staying away from negative people.... Well, I thought I would share with you Mother's thoughts on what it looks like to be Holy:

THE LOOK OF HOLINESS

Holiness to most people is looking holy. They think a holy person is one who never loses his temper. Oh please! They think a holy person never feels impatient. Well, there is not an Italian born who is patient, and since there are more Italian saints than any other nationality, there must be something about being impatient that makes you holy.

-Mother Angelica

Doesn't that take the pressure off?? God knows what's in our hearts, and I think as long as we strive for that perfection by learning from our mistakes, then we will be OK. We must put our love for Him above all else and everything else will follow. I have felt it happen in my life, and while I don't feel that I have that COMPLETE trust and COMPLETE love for Him yet, I feel it increase each and every day that I see His works in my life.

He and only He has a plan for us. So we can make our resolutions for the New Year, but know that whatever we have planned may not work out and that's OK because it's not about what we want. God may have other plans for us....