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September 4, 2020Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – Colossians 3:12
A confession: since GDOT removed the passing lanes on the Tybee Road, sometimes I can be fairly aggressive in jockeying to get ahead of any slow pokes as I approach Lazaretto
Creek Bridge. It’s not very often when I am driving that I am mindful of the words kindness, gentleness, and patience. Mea Culpa! More than ever in the midst of a pandemic, we need to practice Christian virtues. Praise God for all those who are trying to live virtuously. But in a difficult time that leaves no one untouched, it’s disheartening that as a nation we have not come together but remain deeply divided, angry and unkind to one another.
CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN SIMPLY “TOLERATING” OR “BEING NICE” TO PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE DIFFER. GOD CALLS US INSTEAD TO ACTIVE, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR; ACTUALLY TO BLESS THEM.
The call to civility is a start–restoring basic courtesy and respect. Being polite rather than nasty in conversations with others helps. But here’s the thing: Christians are called to a higher standard than simply “tolerating” or “being nice” to people with whom we differ. God calls us instead to active, positive behavior; actually to bless them. In the Gospel, Jesus asks us to love our enemies, and go the second mile to care and support them.
Impossible? Yeah, pretty much. But it starts with those little everyday acts of kindness that we can so easily forget. Our ushers are trying their gentle best to keep you safe when you come to worship. Try not to act aggressively towards them. If they ask you to move to the end of the pew, so that we can accommodate as many people as possible in the limited space available, follow their direction cheerfully. It takes humility and a selfless spirituality to create a healthy faith community. And I’ll try to act more like a Christian gentleman on my approach to the Tybee Road.
LABOR DAY 2020 will be one like no other. Due to the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the number of unemployed workers in the U.S. has increased by more than 14 million, from 6.2 million in February to 20.5 million in May 2020 – substantially greater than the increase seen during the great depression. These economic ramifications have had an even larger impact on those already living near the poverty line, leaving the newly unemployed now without access to food, health care, and in danger of eviction and utility cut-offs. In addition, many low-wage workers without benefits are unable to work remotely or in safe conditions and are at greater risk of contracting the virus.
Come to the 8am Mass on Monday and prayer for all those suffering economic hardship.
Taking the Gospel Home – Prayerfully read Matthew 18:15-20
Has anyone “sinned” against you? How do you move towards reconciliation with them?
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
What does this mean for our faith community? For what or for whom should we be praying?
