Scripture Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30 0 5:2; John 6:41-51
One of the observations that I am sure we have all made from time to time, is the impatience, the anger, the aggressiveness all around us; people presuming ill-will on the part of others; people demanding more, without any efforts on their part; people speaking their mind without facts; and so much more that is part and parcel of society today.
Years ago someone may have said to these people, “Take a chill pill.” While not a real pill, it was a comment used by one party to let another party know that everyone else in the room but them knows they are acting like a complete…. (well, you can fill in the blank)
Truth is, there have been and maybe there are even now times when we should be taking a chill pill. Times that call us to be more like Jesus – kind to one another; compassionate; and forgiving one another.
As we hear in Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus today, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Remove from your lives all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling,” (criticizing in an abusive or angrily insulting manner).
This weekend maybe St. Paul is asking us, maybe challenging us to take a chill pill and to calm down and put on the Mind and Heart and Way of Jesus, the Way of Love.
Where today, where this week, and hopefully beyond today and this week will we take the step or steps again and again and again, to live what we believe: Love God, Love Others, Be Faithful Disciples. Faithful Disciples together who are on a journey of life and faith that hopefully brings us closer and closer to one another and to our God – here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Many of the prophets of the past grew weary of the hard heartedness of the people, who resisted the message of their God. May we the person, families and parish of today – grow in being imitators of God in word and in actions more and more and more.
May the Light of Christ within each of us shine more brightly before all people always and everywhere! AMEN.