In the first reading we hear that “The LORD said to Moses, to tell the community: “Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.” How often do priests hear people say, “I’m a good person” or “I am not a bad person”? Far too often. God does not call us to be “good” or “not bad” he calls us to be holy! Paul reminds us that, by virtue of our baptism, we “are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in us!” Too many of us listen to the popular and successful in this world. We consider them wise simply because they are popular or wealthy. Yet he reminds us that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God”.
In our world of political polemics there is a maliciousness toward those who disagree with our understanding of what needs to be done. Yet that maliciousness comes straight from the evil one, regardless of whether one is to the right or left politically. We are called to “love our neighbor and hate our enemy” and to “pray for those who persecute us.” So, we are called to not be “not bad” or “good” but to be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect.
Countenance of God 