Put on Christ, February 8, 2017 Daily Reflection

Bishop Barron talks about how we are called to become divine. The more divinity we have in us the closer we are to becoming divine. Not that we should become God, like a false idol, but we should become as close to God as possible. We are here to fulfill God’s purpose in our own little corner of the world. We cannot be passive, stagnant, and still, we need to stand up for the Gospel, move forward carrying the kingdom, have a vision of where we are headed and a shared vision for all to get there. In order to do all of this we must, “put on Christ” we must speak his words, let peace overcome our hearts, allow love to bond us to one another, forgiveness and humility should guide our actions.

We have multiple opportunities daily to choose to put on Christ in our souls, minds, thoughts, actions, habits, and eventually our overall character and life’s choices. Why do we sometimes choose to do this and other times run screaming in the other direction, of selfish wants and sinful deeds? Yes, we are human and often times we choose pleasure, wealth, and fame instead of losing ourselves to live for others. We forget how to love, will the good of another. We look away because there can be suffering attached to the giving. Jesus gave selflessly through the cross that we may bear our own for others as well. Suffering, and love are so well connected because willing the good of another instead of self is painful; to deny self for the other hurts sometimes.

Take the opportunity of this new day to let the peace of Christ settle down into your bones. Imagine the suffering of Christ on the cross and listen to his words of love as he forgave those who nailed him to that cross. Allow the wave of peace to wash over your mind while meditating on the smile upon his face when he found joy with the children, how he embraced them as though they were his own. Let the anger and grudges be exhaled from your life, empty yourself so you can put on Christ. Don’t let this be a single occurrence! Daily put on Christ and minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, your life will become one with Jesus Christ. Start right now…by reading what we each need to do:

“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. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, signing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:12-17