There are, it seems, myriad uses of the word “holy.”

 

Those of us who have been singing in churches for many years might hear lyrics playing in our minds when we think of “holy.” Perhaps something like:

 

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…” Or, “We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around…”

 

Maybe we first think of a prayer or litany such as, “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory…”

 

“Holy” is of course an adjective that we tend to use to mean pure or set apart. But for many of us steeped in USAmerican Christian culture, “holy” functions more as a proper noun: Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Holy Week, Holy Land, Holy Communion, Holy Water, Holy Grail, etc.

 

This week’s gospel lesson from John offers another portion of Jesus’ extended prayer for his friends. Jesus prays that his followers would be “made holy in the truth.”

 

But what does that mean?!

Is holy even something to which we aspire?

If so, how might we be made holy?

What are we missing that keeps us from being holy now?

 

Pastor Dave will consider these questions and more this Sunday, May 16th, in his sermon, “There’s a Hole in Our Holiness.”