Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Perhaps our life together begins in forgiveness. Or, to put it differently, we cannot live together without forgiving one another in Christ -- often. So often that we hardly notice it and don't remember it.
As we move around the kitchen, reaching for the plates, cups, or silverware we move around each other, patiently waiting for one to move until we can step into that place. If one opens the refrigerator, the other closes it, and then one quietly opens it again, hardly noticing the inconvenience. It's the dance we do for each other so as to make of our lives a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
These are the gestures every human being makes who lives with other human beings; and yet, because we are Christians, these routines make us imitators of God, as beloved children, when we live in love as Christ loved us.
It's not so difficult, and it is worth noticing how sweet and how pleasant it is when we live as one.
Growing in maturity, we notice that we're no longer entertained by immorality or any impurity or greed, nor by obscenity, and silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place. Such things are not even mentioned among holy ones.
It's not that we're trying to be holy. We don't have to try to act our age as our parents or teachers used to scold us. We've learned that it's better to live this way. Goodness is its own reward.
We live, as Saint Paul observed in today's first reading, in gratitude. As we begin our daily routines of prayer, health. and duties we thank God for the blessings we receive; and for the blessings we are to others.
It is good.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.