Holy, Holy, Holy

FRI., APR. 26, 1985, 5:42 AM
FARM, STUDY

You recognize these as the words of an old familiar hymn, now usually used as the introduction to your regular Sunday worship service. It is a familiar phrase in your liturgical experience, so let Me now expand it for you on this pleasant Spring morning.

Simply put, holy is anything that refers to Me, in any form. And anything that I say or do is, by definition, holy. “Holy, Holy, Holy” is a proper way to put the phrase in written form, because this expresses that I have three equal holy forms, in the Christian context (the only one you should really consider). The Father, before there was any other creation, begot a Son, equal to Him in godliness, and from them both came a Holy Spirit, also their Equal… or was it the Spirit that had the “prior” existence? It makes no difference, for this relationship developed quite outside of time. This expression says, then, that I always have been in three equal forms, each as holy as each other one.

“Holy, holy, holy” expresses another reality. This says that there was, is, and is to be an Almighty God, Father of us all, who brought forth a Son, holier than any other manifestation, but still subservient to His Father and Creator. From the Son has come the Holy Spirit (in a less celebrated way… Christmas certainly beats Pentecost for interest and attention), who is “above all others,” but not quite equal to God.

Each of these is reality. One truth does not negate the other. One truth is not superior to the other. Did it have to be this way? Certainly. And, no, I can never be limited in what I have done, am doing, and will do; it could have been… and perhaps is… many other ways. Fortunately, you don’t have to concern yourself with these. Sufficient unto your understanding is Holy, Holy, Holy.

Another interesting use of this term is as a contrast with the unholy. The holy and the secular… the holy and the profane… the holy and the earthy… these are expressions of this seeming dichotomy. One implication of this is that certain “things” or “places” are holy because I have made them so, and these contrast with that which is unholy. The admonition, “Take off your shoes, for this is holy ground” is one example. In My Jewish tradition there was (and is) that special part of the temple, the Holy of Holies. And, by implication, the bathroom is an earthy place and not to be called holy.

Now let’s consider that holy is anything I designate as holy or that is designated holy in My Name. (Yes, this can be a more transient form of holiness.) In your church Holy Communion is observed-celebrated regularly but infrequently. It is called Holy because it is commemoration of My sacrifice for you. The bread is blessed as I blessed the bread, and it becomes holy, as each small piece is eaten and becomes part of each partaker. Yet the remains of that loaf is not considered still holy (by most). It can be eaten like any other piece of unholy bread.

I have told you that this Farm is a special place. Does that make it a holy place? It is as long as you see it and accept it as such. If you sold it and moved away it probably would cease to be holy. This also implies that what is holy for one may not be holy for another.