When I was a child, it was the style for women and little girls to wear white gloves and a hat when they dressed up. When Mother got out the white gloves, I knew that we were going somewhere to do something that would require I be on my best behavior. White gloves meant that this was an occasion “set apart.” No ripping, running, or getting dirty today. In today’s first reading Peter uses the Greek word “hagios” which we translate as “holy or holiness.” Hagios means literally “set apart.” If we substitute “set apart” as we read, we get an interesting perspective on how God calls us to be set apart in holiness.
I have tended to think of “holy” and “holiness” as meaning sacred or pertaining to God. That is also a correct meaning. But using the “set apart” definition, which is the original one, helps me today to see what I can apply to my life. Here is the final paragraph from 1 Peter today with the words substituted:
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is set apart, be set apart yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, ‘Be set apart because I am set apart.”
I am fascinated by some of the Peter’s language. “Gird up the loins of your minds.” This, scholars tell us, was a reference to the directive for keeping the Passover to “gird up your loins” to be ready to leave Egypt to follow God’s directive. While Peter is not suggesting his readers need to leave homes or communities, he is saying to mentally (“the loins of your minds”) separate from the worldly culture around them. His readers are to focus their minds on Christ, grace, and hope. This includes separation from “the desires of their former ignorance” and from the pagan and traditional Jewish cultures around them. Written about 60-70 AD to Christians in Asia Minor who were experiencing some persecution, I Peter admonishes Christians to stand firm in their faith and its expression.
How do I apply that now to myself? As I took that to prayer two scenarios came to mind. Both were around publicly making the sign of the cross and saying grace in restaurants. Our pastor has taught us that making the sign of the cross and bowing our heads to say grace out loud in a restaurant is a simple way to witness our Catholicism and Christianity. When groups of us go out after mass for breakfast or lunch we routinely do it. I have come to take it for granted as much as I do saying grace at home.
But what about in other situations?
Earlier this spring I was visiting in another city. We ate out. When our food came, without even thinking about it, I started with the sign of the cross and “Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts…” There was a surprised look on the faces of my companions, but they joined in. I am chagrined to admit I was a bit embarrassed. I felt like I needed to explain myself. “Our pastor says this is a good way for us to witness our faith,” I said. Not, “I want to thank God for this food and the goodness of our time together.” Dinner went on.
More recently I had lunch with a friend. When our food came, she started eating immediately. Now I really didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to embarrass her, but I do say grace before I eat. I compromised and bowed my head for a moment to say grace silently.
At both my work and in my personal life I comfortably claim Christianity as I do Works of Mercy. People know I’m Catholic and I talk about my faith. And within my community I am very comfortable claiming what is true: I want to thank God for the goodness of food and God’s loving care which its plentitude in my life represents.
But when I am with others whom I think should also be of the mindset to say grace (all my companions in these stories were active-go-to-mass-each-Sunday Catholics) but they do not do it—I am hesitant. In at least these two instances I did not “gird up the loins of my mind” to claim gladly being set apart, to claim to belong to God and thank Him. I stayed true to thanking God, but not true to risking what others thought as I did so. When the culture of Catholics did not match the culture of faith, I fumbled.
Such a simple thing to thank God publicly in a restaurant.
But sometimes hard to do.
Once again, Jesus is gentle as His message develops the first reading. In the Gospel today a younger, just being formed Peter is following up on yesterday’s story. The rich young man whom Jesus told to “go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven” has just walked away. Jesus has said that it is as hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven as it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. As usual, Peter voices the surprise of all the disciples. “We have given up everything and followed you,” he says. Jesus responds with the reassurance that for their generosity, in time they will have both much more—and persecution.
I have an intern on my staff from Nigeria whose home was once burned as persecution for her Christianity. She is studying now to return to Nigeria and work with widows who are often as much victims of religious wars as their husbands who are killed. She stands tall consistently with her Christianity.
I need to learn how to imitate her.
What sets you apart in your Christianity? There are big things like worship, stands on moral issues, and love your neighbor. There are little things like saying grace in a restaurant because you wish to thank God who gives you the food and the fellowship. As you pray with today’s scriptures, what is the next habit God is calling you to, so that you may grow in holiness?
“Be holy because I am holy.” “Be set apart because I am set apart.”
When I was a child wearing white gloves and a hat reminded me to be on my best behavior for a “set apart” occasion. Habits like both saying grace in a restaurant and claiming the gratitude to God which is the core of that Catholic cultural practice help me be on my best behavior, help me remember by my baptism I have been set apart to be holy as God is holy. Lord, help me learn!
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for what You are teaching me today. I read Your word and I want to be a lighthouse Christian. Today You show me I need Your help to be a tiny candle. I want to do great things for You, but I don’t do simple things well. Lead me, guide me. Give me the grace to be the light you would wish me to be. Let me never again hesitate to say grace no matter where I am or whom I am with. Let me always thank You, to whom I belong, for the goodness of food—and so many other things. In Jesus name. Amen.
