I, then, 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. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NABRE)
With the words of today's verse, Saint Paul urged the believers at Ephesus to work for unity among themselves. Paul also exhorted the congregation at Colossae to the same unity.
And to the Colossians, he wrote that they should, "live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)
Paul gave similar advice to the Colossians on how to maintain unity. He wrote, "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)
Today, I will meditate on this advice in the context of my Church parish.
Saint Matthew, Apostle and patron of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, and tax collectors, pray for us.
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