Be holy as I am holy – Youth Meeting U.S.A

In this lecture, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about God’s call for man to live a life of holiness and purity, as he was created in the image of God. Since God is holy, His children must also be holy. Holiness is not only external behavior but an inner state lived in thought, heart, and action.

🔹 Holiness as a Divine Nature:
God is holy, and everything related to Him—His name, His saints, His house, and His day—is holy. Therefore, man must sanctify the Lord’s day and live his life as a sacred temple for God.

🔹 How We Become Holy:
His Holiness explains that holiness is first received through baptism, where man is cleansed from his old sins and reborn of water and spirit. This holiness is renewed through continuous repentance and the holy sacraments, especially the Eucharist, which sanctifies and strengthens the believer to live in purity.

🔹 Holiness in Daily Life:
A holy person lives in the fear of God, avoiding sin not from fear of punishment but from love for God. True repentance is the first step toward holiness and means hating sin, just as Joseph the Righteous refused sin out of love for God.

🔹 Fruits of Repentance:
A true sign of repentance is to correct the consequences of one’s sins, as Zacchaeus did when he restored what he had taken unjustly. Holiness is not a single act but a continuous journey of spiritual growth.

🔹 The Universal Call to Holiness:
All believers are called to be “saints,” as St. Paul addressed them in his letters. Holiness is not limited to a few but is the divine purpose for all who live in Christ.

🔹 Core Message:
Holiness is the image of God in man, and purity is the fruit of union with Him. Whoever lives in repentance and holy fear dwells in God’s presence and becomes a chosen vessel for His work.

For better translation support, please contact the center.