So here is another idea. I know a lot of people are doing this already, but every Sunday I am going to talk about one of the readings from mass.
Today I was really caught up by the second reading (yes for those of you who attended the ninth Sunday after Pentecost at a Traditional Latin Mass parish... this is from the New Mass. For your information I attend both!). So here is that reading... courteous of the USCCB website:
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Eph 4: 1-6
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
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Lets start with what St. Paul has to say about himself, "I, a prisoner for the Lord,"... I think that is one of the most awesome things I heard this weekend. I am now describing myself as a prisoner for the Lord. Most people would criticize that because fairly prisoner has justly a negative connotation. But this is different then being imprisoned out of punishment. In that case one becomes a prisoner of, yet St. Paul describes himself as a prisoner for. That's the difference. One chooses to be enslaved in loving supplication, the other is forced into confinement. How beautiful it is to choose love. Imprisonment should make one lose everything, but in choosing enslavement to Christ, St. Paul would gain everything. That one little change in preposition changes everything! God's love is so clear in the details! But enough on one appositive, lets get to the reading on whole.
The next part which really caught my attention was, "I ...urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received". I think this bit is particularly important for us, the young people. It shouldn't come as a surprise if I were to detail the disgusting escapades of a great number of high school and college kid's weekends, but I would disgrace the blog in writing them here. It suffices to say they are sad and undignified. St. Paul talks about living in a manner worthy of our call. Now Paul is writing to a Christian community at Ephesus, not to one person, so he can't be talking about a specific call. So in translation to modern times he isn't directly referring to some one's call to marriage or religious life (though the principle still applies). St. Paul is referring to something we call the common call to holiness, the vocation we all share.
We are created in the image and likeness of God, give favor above all creatures, even the Angels. In addition, we have received the Gospel, we know the Truth, we know Christ. In addition to our responsibilities to human dignity (not just that of others but ours as well) we are also responsible due to our gift of faith. Of those with many gifts, much is expected. We have received such a great calling and therefore great things are expected from us. We are responsible for fulfilling these responsibilities. So promiscuity, a lack of chastity, a lack of modesty, a lack of temperance, etc... these things are all unbefitting of a people called to such high dignity.
As Paul says, we must be humble and gentle, patient and peaceful, we must be engulfed in love. Do not forget his exhortation on HOPE! "you were also called to the one hope of your call" Our hope is in the Lord, who made Heaven and earth. We have but one hope, and it is God. Our hope is in our one baptism, the one truth, the one faith. We are called to hope! So my friends, no matter what happened this weekend, or even this Summer, or even since your last confession, do not despair. God saves! So have hope, for it is beneath your dignity to allow hope to escape you. There is so much to hope in. Bring your fear and despair to the one from whom hope comes! In Him, there is no despair and their is no undignified manners. In Him is always hope and Love, so have faith, have hope, and have love. No matter where we have been, Paul is telling us we are called to live in a dignified manner, with hope in the Lord. With that hope, no shortcomings can ever prevail. Sin will fail to conquer, for we choose to be prisoners for hope, prisoners for Love. Let us henceforth be slaves for Christ!
Remember on Holy Saturday, when the night seemed the darkest and the Light furthest from sight, Easter was only a few short hours away. The risen Lord is just there in front of you waiting for us.
Do not be afraid.
Do not lose hope.
Regain your dignity.
God Love you,
AMDG
Peter James d`Aquino
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