“For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.” (St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, ch. 5)
Dear Friends,
St. Paul’s words are so appropriate for the current climate we are living in. In an election year that has gone awry, in the shaky disappearance of basic civility on so many levels of our culture, in an atmosphere of violence and disrespect of human life at every stage and in every human circumstance, in a world in which in the blink of an eye, all rules seem to change and expectations of hope crash, something needs to change!
That is why I was so glad to read our gospel this Sunday. Christ is very direct. It is time to get to work, and we have to start with ourselves. We no longer have the luxury of time to wait. We no longer can employ the rather convenient excuse that it is someone else’s problem. We need to engage in a program of self-reflection to determine how we in every area of our lives are trying to live the Golden Rule.
The old proverb that a journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step can guide us, showing us that as soon as we start with what we do have control over, our daily lives, then greater things can happen. We can change the world, but first we must start with ourselves, and truly live the love Christ calls us to in everything.
Tough days, yes, but love is present, too. We can do better, all of us, together, so that the Kingdom of peace and justice which is our destiny as believers can begin to unfold. One person, one act of self-giving service to others at a time. Then the powers of evil will be defeated.
Let’s get to work!
Sincerely, with love,
Fr. Tim
