Some people can give us such a boost
in the kindness, compassion, gentleness, and patience they display. However, others can wreak tremendous damage in their unkindness, lack of compassion, their harshness and their impatience. This latter behaviour can so easily lead us to a lack of self-worth, low self-esteem, inadequacy, and unfounded
feelings of guilt, even depression…
Saint Paul in his Letter to the Colossians, invited the Christians in Colossae to “clothe” themselves with the best attributes they could, to make Christ attractive to those around them who didn’t believe. Here's how he suggested they should do this.
COLOSSIANS 3: Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (see the end-note about Colossae ***)
Forgive us Lord, when we forget that our brothers and sisters are as human and fallible as we are. May we extend to the other the grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness that you have extended to us.
Lord, so move us to treat others as we would wish to be treated, and love them as you love us. Teach us to live in peace;
encourage us to be thankful; to be a model and example of living faithfully and fully
according to your wisdom.
"Do it Anyway" - St.Teresa of Kolkata
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends
and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create it anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
Asid, a 21-year old Muslim from
Afghanistan, invited people of faith
to dare to wear the “clothing”
which St Paul talks of…..
When a new day begins,
dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness,
dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice,
dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult,
dare to do it anyway.
When there seems to be no hope,
dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired,
dare to keep going.
When times are tough,
dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you,
dare to love again.
When someone is hurting,
dare to help them heal.
When another is lost,
dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls,
dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another,
dare to make them smile.
When you feel great,
dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended,
dare to feel that you've done your best.
Dare to be the best you can –
At all times, Dare to be!'
Lord Jesus, stresses and strains
paralyse our endeavours.
You promise us life,
and that we might have it in abundance.
Loosen the things to which we are captive,
that we may rise above and beyond the troubles of this world,
and know your peace.
Eternal Light, shine in our hearts. Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil. Eternal Power, be our support. Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance. Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us, That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength
we may seek Your face,
and be brought by Your infinite goodness
into Your holy Presence. Amen.
***The area around Colossae was wealthy. Clean chalk streams, ideal for fulling-work, flowed through the area, which itself was fertile land, and excellent pasturing for sheep. This led to a thriving wool trade, the finest in the-then-known world, and the position of Hieropolis, Colossae and Laodicea on significant trade-routes placed them in an ideal position to broaden their textile markets. William Barclay in his commentary said – “Laodicea was specially famous for the production of garments of the finest quality. The allied trade was dyeing. The superb quality of the chalky waters made them especially suitable for dyeing cloth, and Colossae was so famous for this trade that a certain dye was called by its name.”
Colossae and the other towns became synonymous with fine woollen clothing, so when Paul talks to the Colossian Christians in terms of “clothing yourself with….” he was talking in terms with which they could readily identify - the city’s livelihood made in the production and sale of fine clothes.
Comentarios