“LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY”

Meditation for Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

(Col 3:12-17; Lk 6:27-38)

“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and…forgive each other.” St Paul exhorts the Colossians on the life-style expected of them as Christ’s faithful. Such behavior will give way for the manifestation among them of the heavenly inheritance they have in Jesus Christ. How can these virtues be sustained? St Paul says, “And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.” A heart that is inclined to this holy life will always be thankful, rejoicing and meditating on the word of Christ. Finally, St Paul exhorts them to anchor their lives on Jesus Christ, “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.”

To anchor one’s life on Jesus Christ, it is necessary to soak one’s heart in meditation on the words and actions of Jesus. Then the heart and mind will begin to personalize and appropriate such divine moments as captured through the gospel passage. At a time when the riches of the word of God has become the energy of the heart and the principle of action, it becomes very possible to fulfil the words of Jesus in the gospel of today: “I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” It is from this indwelling of the word of Jesus in our heart that we can practice charity without segregating, show mercy to all, avoid judging and condemning others, and look forward to heaven for our reward and justification.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom”, says St Paul. This indwelling of the word of Christ trains the heart to a righteous life-style, which bring to us and to others, the riches of the saints in light. Amen.

St Peter Claver, Pray for us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 9th, 2021.
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