Thursday of the
Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 6:27-38)
The third century theologian Tertullian quoted pagans
admiring Christian, “Look how they love one another.” Evidently early Christians took to heart
Scriptural passages like the one we read from the Letter to the Colossians today. We are told to “have heartfelt compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and
forgiving one another...”
In the name of honesty Christians today criticize one
another with all the fervor of desperate politicians. For the past generation at least the locus of
criticism has been the liberal-conservative divide. Liberals speak of conservatives as
compassionless while conservatives fault liberals for wavering commitment to
Church belief. It may not always be possible
to refrain from judgment on fundamental Christian principles like mercy and
faithfulness. Still in most cases forbearance
is possible until one knows the thoughts and situation of the other completely.
We follow Christ, in the words of the reading, by “bearing
with one another and forgiving one another.”
Doing so, we might turn around and find Christ putting into our hearts
his peace.
