Dear brothers and sisters,

Our second reading is from Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians and reminds us to seek what is above. Saint Paul was encouraging the Colossians to grow in holiness by imitating the inner life of Jesus. Our Lord is the perfect example of holiness and was the very one who inspired Saint Paul to live what he was preaching. We are called to live a life of holiness with the help of our Lord’s grace and to imitate the love of God and neighbor that Jesus lived while He was in the flesh. In the document from Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, we are instructed, “Christians have been raised to a new kind of life, whereby they share, even while on earth, in the glorious life of the Risen Jesus. This life is at present spiritual and hidden, but when our Lord comes in glory, it will become manifest and glorious.” (Chapter 6) There are two practical consequences of this teaching, the need to seek the things that are above; which is the divine example and grace that Jesus offers us, and the need to pass unnoticed in one’s everyday work and ordinary life – yet to do everything with a supernatural purpose in mind. This thought was explained well by Jose Maria Escriva when he taught, “We come to realize that the supernatural value of our life does not depend on accomplishing great undertakings suggested to us by our over-active imagination. Rather it is to be found in the faithful acceptance of God’s will, in welcoming generously the opportunities, for small, daily sacrifice.” (Christ is Passing By, p172) In other words, if we strive to holiness by the grace of our Lord we will be more able to live out this supernatural life we are called to and we will, by imitating Jesus’ inner life, naturally become people with a greater capacity for faith, hope, and love.

Peace,

Fr. Mike