Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest
(Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19)
Whatever the author of the Letter to the Colossians had in
mind by “empty, seductive philosophy,” it is not difficult to find such
sophistry in the world today. From the
amount of pornography available on the Internet, sexual pleasure obviously
holds many people captive. Even more
pernicious is the cult of the ego. People
believe the absurd ideas that they are the creators of themselves and may do
whatever they please.
The writer sees Christ as the salvation from all such erroneous
ideas. Christ brings people together in mutual
love rather than allow them to exploit one another. He does this not by imposing himself on others
as was done with Israel’s Law. Rather he
takes the burden of the Law on himself by sacrificing himself on the cross, a
faithful Jew until the end and at the same time the God of all.
Whether Paul authored the letter or one of his disciples,
the writer asks his readers to “walk in (Christ).” We are to avoid sin, love our neighbor, and
depend upon God for moral support.
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