Becoming Holy: Growing in the Image and Likeness of Christ

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
— Mt 5:48

As Christians, we are not just called to believe in Jesus Christ—we are called to become like Him. This call to holiness is not a privilege for a few, but a universal vocation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that all the faithful are called to the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity (CCC 2013). In other words, each of us is invited to become a living reflection of Jesus, growing day by day into His image and likeness.

Reclaiming the Lost Likeness

We were created in God’s image (Gen 1:26–27), but sin obscured that divine resemblance. Through Jesus—the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15)—we can reclaim it. Christ not only reveals who God is; He shows us who we are meant to be. His life is our model, and His grace is our strength. Holiness, then, is not about perfectionism or performance, but about transformation—becoming like Christ through a daily relationship with Him.

Two pillars guide us on this journey: the Holy Eucharist and the Word of God. One gives us Christ’s real presence; the other reveals His heart.

The Catechism calls the Eucharist “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). In every Mass and in the quiet moments of adoration, we encounter Christ—body, blood, soul, and divinity—hidden in the simple forms of bread and wine. Here, we sit in the presence of Love Himself.

“The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church.”
— St. John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia 25

The Eucharist reveals the humility of Christ, who offers Himself again and again for our salvation. But this sacrament is not meant to be admired from afar. It is meant to be received, contemplated, and imitated. As we adore Jesus in the Eucharist, we are called to become like Him: broken and shared for the life of the world.

The Word of God: Discovering the Heart of Christ

To truly imitate Christ, we must know Him. And we come to know Him deeply through the Scriptures, which are a living encounter with the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14). The Church teaches that “The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord” (Dei Verbum 21). Through meditative reading, we enter into the mind and heart of Jesus.

Consider the story of Nathanael (Jn 1:45–51). Initially skeptical, Nathanael wonders if anything good could come from Nazareth. But Jesus doesn’t criticize him. Instead, He gently reveals that He knows Nathanael’s heart and invites him, saying, “Come and see.” That simple invitation transforms Nathanael from a doubter into a disciple.

In this passage, Jesus models patience and kindness. If someone misjudges us, our natural reaction might be to defend ourselves. But Jesus teaches us another way: respond not with arguments, but with love. This is how we become holy—not only by praying, but by living the Gospel.

Meditation: Letting the Word Take Root

To grow in holiness, we need time to reflect deeply on Scripture. The tradition of lectio divina—sacred reading—invites us to slow down, listen, and respond to God’s Word. As St. John of the Cross said, “Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.”

Holiness begins when we allow the Word to shape our thoughts, purify our judgments, and soften our hearts to love like Christ.

Each Gospel passage becomes an invitation to transformation. Reflecting on Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (Jn 13:1–17), we might ask: Who is God calling me to serve today? Reading about His mercy toward the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:1–11), we might ask: Who needs my forgiveness today?

Eucharist and Word: A Partnership in Holiness

The Eucharist and Scripture are inseparable in the Christian life, working together to form us into the likeness of Christ. The Eucharist fills us with Christ’s life, while Scripture guides us in living out that life. St. Augustine emphasizes this unity in Sermon 272: “You are what you have received… Be a member of the body of Christ so that your ‘Amen’ may be true.” Each “Amen” at Communion is a commitment to embody Christ in the world, aligning our lives with His.

However, devotion to the Eucharist must not be reduced to adoration alone. St. Teresa of Ávila warns in Interior Castle (4.3.8), “The Lord doesn’t look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done.” Adoration is vital, but if it does not lead to love for others, our devotion remains incomplete. True devotion bears fruit in action, transforming us to live with the mind of Christ, as St. Paul urges in Phil 2:5: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

Developing the mind of Christ is central to becoming holy. If we spend time in adoration without desiring to conform our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to His, our devotion lacks fruitfulness. Holiness requires that our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist and Scripture shapes our entire being, so we reflect His love, humility, and selflessness in the world. Thus, our “Amen” becomes true when our devotion leads us to live as Christ, with His mind and heart, in all we do.

A Call to Action

Holiness is not beyond our reach. It is the daily choice to reflect Christ—to think like Him, love like Him, and serve like Him. The Eucharist gives us the strength; the Word gives us the direction.

So, dear friends, let us renew our devotion to both.