the thrice-holy god
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones." —Colossians 1:1-2
Paul called Christians "saints," that is, holy ones (see Col 1:4). He usually began his letters thanking God for the holiness of his Christian brothers and sisters. He called all the saints to grow in holiness.
We are called to be holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). We are to be holy as God the Father is holy (1 Pt 1:16). We should want to be holy even more than we want to be selfish. Moreover, we should delight with God to see people living holy lives and growing in holiness. May our heart's desire be that God the Father's name be hallowed (Mt 6:9), that is, recognized as holy, because of the holiness of His children. In heaven, "day and night, without pause, they sing: 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty' " (Rv 4:8). May our holy lives constantly sing the holiness of the thrice-holy God: "Holy, holy, holy..."
Prayer: Father, may I live and die to be holy.
Promise: "At sunset, all who had people sick with a variety of diseases took them to Him, and He laid hands on each of them and cured them." —Lk 4:40
Praise: Nora, at age seventy-five, heard the Lord tell her to begin a child-care center in her home. She especially serves children born to mothers addicted to drugs.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Be Holy, For I Am Holy.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 22, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 24, 1999