Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 NABRE)
Growth toward salvation is seen here as two steps: first, stripping away all that is contrary to the new life in Christ; second, the nourishment (pure spiritual milk) that the newly baptized have received.*
Interestingly, when Peter states that you have tasted that the Lord is good he is referring directly to Psalm 34:9 which is a song in which King David describes how he turned to the Lord as his only refuge in a life-threatening situation. The message is that God hears and answers those who turn to him in need.
And so we live our days. We try with the help of the Spirit to rid ourselves of what works against our life in Christ. We long for spiritual nourishment. And we put our trust in God when things get difficult, hoping that we are strengthened for when the worst happens, so we will not fall away in despair or despondency, anger or disillusionment.
Today, I will live the day mindful that the Lord is good.
Saint Philip Neri, who prayed, ""Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow," pray for us.
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