If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2 NABRE)
Paul talks of the mystical death an resurrection of those who follow Christ. In today's verse, he tells the Colossians that "By retaining the message of the gospel that the risen, living Christ is the source of their salvation, the Colossians will be free from false religious evaluations of the things of the world."* In other words, "our citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20)
In practical terms, Paul goes on to tell us that we are to think about heaven and stop thinking about what is on earth. He lists a substantial number of vices we are to renounce. (Colossians 3:5)
And so, he continues the strong message that because we are citizens of heaven, we should always be thinking of our homeland, avoiding the foreign things of this world that distract us from our trip homeward.
Today, I will think about and seek what is above.
Saint Peter Claver, patron of African-Americans and Colombia, pray for us.
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