In today’s first reading, Ephesians 4: 32-5:8, Paul states
clearly what the Lord asks of us, namely, to be compassionate and forgiving of
others as God is of us. We are asked to
imitate Jesus, who gave his life for us. For whom am I giving my life today?
Whom will I uplift today through my acts of love and forgiveness? Will I be a
source of strength, hope and love for others today or will I burden others
today by attitudes of selfishness, stinginess and disdain or by deceitful ways and speech, through gossip and
the like? Paul goes on to say: “Immorality or any impurity or greed must
not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or
silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.” Just in case we do not get it, he says
furthermore: “No immoral or impure or
greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of
Christ and of God.”
My thoughts immediately went to what we witness during the
campaigns for presidency of the U.S. But
that, in itself, draws Paul’s rebuke, as am I not engaging
in silly talk about our politicians. Am I not then being divisive, looking at a
“them versus us” categorization? Is
such talk not dragging others down to the level to which I lowered myself?
Today’s Scripture opens with the invitation to be “kind to one another,
compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” My thoughts then would be: “Lord, forgive me
my trespasses as I forgive others theirs.”
I would, like the republican in Sunday’s Gospel, be saying to the Lord: “O
God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18: 14).
May you and I heed Paul’s admonitions and follow the way
that truly leads us to the “inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God,”
that Jesus won for us by His death on the cross for our salvation and salvation
of the entire world, including the politicians of today and forever!
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