Thursday, September 12, 2019

The Garments of Salvation

Reflection for Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Year I
(Col 3:12-17; Lk 6:27-38)
The dressing we put on says something about our hidden personality. Also, the colour combinations we exhibit often reflect something of our state of mind. Now, St Paul proposes a dress code for us today as we continue to reflect on the letter to the Colossians. This clothing will reflect our hidden life in Christ Jesus:  “Put on, as God’s chosen ones holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience...forgiving each other.” These virtues are to be worn as clothes in our hearts. There is still a ticker cloth to put on above these ones: “And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Love is the outer coat that protects the other virtues. Together they keep the soul secure for salvation. But the enemy targets to strip us of this most important outer coat of love so that it will be easy for us to lose the other virtues. Without these clothes of love and righteousness, our hearts will be exposed to the cold wind of hate and sin. Nevertheless, the word of Christ is the belt that fastens these clothes to prevent them from ever falling off. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”  

Hence St Paul advises that Jesus must be the reason for our every action. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” In this way our garments of righteousness will be secure, and we will be protected from our salvation enemies. Thus, our words and actions cannot be controlled from outside by others.

That is why Jesus declares, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” For whoever is in Christ Jesus, their love cannot be diminished by the hate of others. And there is no space for hate or revenge in his heart since the love of Christ urges him on (cf. 2Cor 5:14). Our good will and charity must be available to all since our garments of righteousness are secure. “And your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday September 12, 2019.