Thursday, September 12, 2019

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 6:27-38)

Paper ghosts, witches, and skeletons have already invaded department stores.  Halloween decorations can be purchased now for an event still seven weeks away! Children and certainly some adults as well are wondering what costume they will put on.  Today’s first reading suggests some articles for Christians to wear.  They are to be put on not just on one day a year but every day.

The passage recommends that the Colossians “put on…heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” It means that they are to practice the virtues of forbearance and love. In his Letter to the Romans St. Paul says it even more poetically.  “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ…,” he says. He wants his readers to act like Jesus day in and day out.  If they do not know how, they might check today’s gospel for instructions.

It has been said that it is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting.  In other words, if we wish to lose weight, it is better to eat less and exercise more than to imagine ourselves as thin.  Alternatively, if we wish to become like Christ, we best stop judging others and pray for those who mistreat us.

Thursday, September 10, 2013

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.

Homilette for Thursday, September 10, 2009

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...”

Perhaps in the name of honesty Christians today criticize one another with all the fervor of hardened politicians. For the past generation at least the measure has been the liberal-conservative divide. Liberals speak of conservatives as compassionless while conservatives fault liberals for wavering commitment to Church belief. It may be imprudent and perhaps impossible to refrain from judgment on fundamental Christian principles like mercy and faithfulness. Still judgment does not require always speaking one’s mind. We follow Christ, in the words of the reading, by “bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” Or is it that when we act with such forbearance Christ follows us putting into our hearts his peace?