Holiness as Wholeness: A Journey towards Spiritual Healing

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus uses strong imagery to speak about the need to cut off parts of the body that cause sin. He tells His followers that if their hand, foot, or eye leads them to sin, they should remove it, for it is better to live life maimed than to be thrown into hell with a fully intact body. While this language may seem drastic, Jesus is not literally endorsing self-harm, but rather emphasising the seriousness of sin, and the importance of removing anything that stands in the way of holiness.

At its core, this teaching calls us to reflect on the idea of holiness as wholeness. (Surprisingly both these words stem from the same Germanic root – hāl meaning completeness or integrity.) Sin, in its many forms, fractures our relationship with God, others, and even ourselves. It creates a kind of spiritual disease, one that distorts our vision of God’s love, weakens our capacity to serve others, and leads us away from the path of life that Jesus offers. In response, Jesus invites us to undergo a process of spiritual healing, a journey that involves identifying and removing the things in our lives that cause division and separation.

Holiness is not about being perfect in every sense but about becoming whole—restoring the broken parts of ourselves to the fullness of life that God intends for us. This process of becoming whole often requires making difficult choices. It may involve letting go of harmful habits, negative influences, or unhealthy relationships that draw us away from God’s presence. It is a call to examine our hearts, to identify the “spiritual diseases” that prevent us from living fully in communion with God.

Jesus’ teaching reminds us that holiness is not just about external actions but also about our inner life. It is about aligning our hearts, minds, and souls with God’s will. As we strive for this wholeness, we experience spiritual healing—a renewal of our souls that brings us peace, joy, and the ability to live out our calling as disciples of Christ.

This week, let us reflect on the areas of our lives that may be causing division within ourselves and with others. What habits or attitudes need to be “cut off” so that we can live more fully in the love of God? The journey to wholeness is not easy, but it is one that leads to the fullness of life in Christ. May your pursuit of holiness bring you wholeness; and as you strive towards discipline and self-mastery, may your wholeness draw you closer to holiness. It is only through this journey within, that one finds true revelation and purpose. “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire!” – St Catherine of Siena.

Journey well, Fr Gerard