Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
I am always fascinated when we read a list of virtues or a set of instructions for how to live as we do today. In the first reading, Paul “urges” the Ephesians (and all of us) “to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received” (Eph 4:1). Great! Here is a simple checklist, all very clearly and simply laid out for me—Christian living for Dummies. Just do these few things and you’re all set for heaven.
I am a Dayton transplant and was not a member of the parish when the Immaculate Conception mission statement was written. However, I can’t help but imagine that someone read Ephesians chapter 4 very closely prior to its production.
Immaculate Conception Parish is a community of disciples that embraces Christ’s call to holiness, community and servant hood. We live our call to be Christ’s disciples through our spirit-filled worship, empowering reflection on God’s word, and genuine service to our neighbors. We also strive to Think like Jesus, Talk like Jesus, and Act like Jesus®️, and in this way make God’s unconditional love evident for all.
United in body, spirit, and love, we are invited to embrace discipleship; “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (5-6). Being a Christian is not merely a set of beliefs, but a way of living. We have been blessed by the love of Christ, so the appropriate response is a new way of living. The love and grace of our good God is not contingent on our ability to get our act together first. Rather, “the Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it” (Ps 24:1) and hence we strive to Think, Talk, and Act like Jesus as a reflection of, and sharing in, God’s unconditional love.
Our list from Paul includes some very reasonable and doable virtues—humility, gentleness, and patience. But then comes the real challenge, “bear with one another through love” (Eph 4:2b). Uh-oh. We are expected to uphold these virtues with each other? I can be humble with God. That’s easy; God is God and I am not. However, my ego gets the better of me more often than not when dealing with other people. Can I accept with gentleness and patience the challenges and disagreements with neighbors, colleagues, social media commenters, opponents at sporting events, family members, or those with different viewpoints from my own? Yet this is exactly our mission: to be humble, gentle, and patient; not just with God or people we like or who are like us but with all of our neighbors.
May the grace of our good and loving God continue to help us lean into our call as we spend time in worship, prayer, and service to one another. Let us continue to strive for holiness, to Think like Jesus, Talk like Jesus, and Act like Jesus.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer