St Paul on Our Love for Others

For John, BLUF:  Respond to others in love.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Today's Second Reading Here is Saint Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (4:1-6e):

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.

I was especially struck by the line "bearing with one another through love".  Yes, there are irritating people out there.  People who are ignorant or stupid or overly self-centered.  But, St Paul calls us to love them, in Christ.  Every morning is a new day and a new chance to act in love.  Yes, if Person X is out to knife you, you have the right to protect yourself from damage, but you need to be open to the idea that today may be different and Person X may have turned over a new leaf.  And when you must respond, do it in love.

In responding to someone who is against us our response must reflect truth and support justice.  We are not dealing with a space alien, but with a fellow human being, although perhaps one we find grating, "striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace".

Regards  —  Cliff