Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 - Tuesday in the 32th Week in Ordinary Time
[Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 and Luke 17:7-10]For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do good. [Titus]
NOVEMBER 12 ST. JOSAPHAT, bishop and martyr
If one wanted to have a broad vision of Christianity in one paragraph, the words above from the Letter to Titus would be a good candidate! This passage is one of the scriptures read on Christmas Day! It's one of those "AMEN!" passages that most of us could sign on to! The goal of "rejecting godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age..." while awaiting the second coming of Christ is clear enough. It's the practical implementation of it that is the challenge. How does one live "temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age?" That could be the theme of a whole retreat, let alone an entire life!
Living "temperately?" Hmmm....what are the "excessive" patterns of my life? Living "justly?" What are the patterns of bias and unfairness? Living "devoutly?" What are the patterns of "spiritual sloth?" How willing are we to allow ourselves to be "trained" to live temperately, justly and devoutly? Do we say, "Leave me alone! I'm set in my ways! It's too hard to change?" "Is there a pill that can make all of this happen? No! There isn't! There's no such thing as "cheap grace!" There's no "bippity, boppity, boo!" that will change our behavior for the better. It takes deliberate faith, unswerving hope and intentional love, all of which are available to us if we are willing to embrace the challenge and make the effort. We can't just say "Amen" and "sign up," we also have to "show up" and get trained! AMEN