In our second reading, Paul tells the Ephesians to “put away the old self of your former way of life” and then uses the analogy of “putting on,” as we would put on a new wardrobe. In the baptismal ceremony, a child is clothed in a white garment, which is to symbolize exactly what Paul was saying to the Ephesians: now that they are Christians, their way of living has to change. Before they were “corrupted by deceitful desires” (read: our human emotions and desires), but now they have to control those human emotions and live as Christ did, to the best of their ability.
This is a big challenge for any human being. The first thing we need to pay attention to is the word CONTROL. Our human reactions and emotions will come: we can’t stop them. They are not sinful in themselves; they are just part of who and what we are. It is a waste of energy to try not to have them or feel guilty for having them. It is what we DO with them that is good or evil. For example, if someone cuts me off in traffic, I will feel anger. If I react with road rage, that is wrong. If I control myself, tell myself that I do stupid things sometimes, and pray for the person, I have acted according to Gospel values. None of us will be perfect in this, but we need to keep growing. Knowing that it is difficult for us, the Lord has given us wonderful helps. We have the Gospels, which show us how Jesus lived and reacted in hostile situations. We have the Eucharist, food to strengthen us as we struggle to grow. We have the community, the Body of Christ to which we belong. We have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a time to reflect on how we are doing, ask forgiveness for failures, and plan how we can do better. How blessed we are with all these gifts to help us mature spiritually, as we walk through life. Let’s make sure we are using them. God bless. Church sign: You can’t make something shine without friction.
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