Word to the Wise
Friday, October 27, 2006 - 29th Friday in Ordinary Time
[Ephesians 4:1-6 and Luke 12:54-59]I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received....
Again, in one long sentence, St. Paul manages to provide a profound reflection on aChristian reality. After praying that we might all be filled with the "fullness of God," he calls our attention to the implications of that. We are urged to "humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace." Any of us who live in a family or religious community know that those inspiring words are not as easy to live as they are to read! I can remember as a novice director the times when a novice would tell me that everything was great except for his relationship with Bro. X. That's always the situation in any human community. It's difficult to be on ideal terms with everyone or anyone. The Lord does not expect us to sprout wings and halos but we ARE expected to make the effort to live at peace and in love in a community or marriage. These are not just ideas or ideals. These must always be seen, at least at the outset, to be possible and worth achieving. It's no excuse to say, "He or she just won't listen to me! Lord knows, I'VE TRIED!" The only thing that can be said in reply is, "Keep trying!" We can't accept the blessings of God's fullness if we insist on maintaining contentious relationships with our neighbor, spouse, siblings, community members. We cannot make God the referee. God loves all the players! AMEN
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