A Reflection for the Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest
“...persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard…” (Col 1:21-23)
If you live in a world where everything is up for grabs—where so much of life is relative and casual and confused and shabby and muddled and unrepentant and lost and uncertain of the way forward, missing a clear voice, bereft of a concrete solution or hard ground to stand upon and any number of other pavement-based metaphors—Paul’s words today are a great relief:
“You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you…”
And:
“...persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard…”
Paul is a metaphysical track coach encouraging his charges to go spiritually higher, faster, stronger than they thought they could.
This is what is. These things are true. I speak with clarity in an unclear world. I issue commanding commands and direct directives. Paul is a metaphysical track coach encouraging his charges to go spiritually higher, faster, stronger than they thought they could, encouraging them with the knowledge that God has already reconciled them. Simply remembering that we are reconciled does three quarters of the work of living with the joy and freedom God wants for us.
