Something I value in the Letters of Saint Paul is that, unlike the Gospels which are tellings of Jesus’ acts and life, the letters of Saint Paul speak and display the effect and spirit Jesus’ touch has on the living and acts of someone who is completely human. As one who once persecuted and murdered early Christians, as one who openly admits to a “thorn of the flesh” to which he was never able to rid—and by its presence continually returns Paul’s spirit to humility, grace, and awareness of his need for God—the letters of Saint Paul show the true change of spirit and living that the grace of Jesus/God can have when encountered and, after, followed.
In Ephesians 4, Paul writes in testament to the variety of gifts we are all given for use in living God’s will and spreading his love/charity throughout our time in this world. “I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, with all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.”
The use of our gifts is not to be lived for our own glory or acclaim, but as testament to the glory and grace of God: “to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.”
We are all given different gifts. “He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors an doctors, for perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the boy of Christ: until we all meet into the unity of faith, ando fo the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ…”
God gives each of us gifts to aid our fellow men. What gifts has God given us, and how are we using them to the aid and charity of our neighbors?
The metaphor of the Church as a human body with many parts, each having a gift and specific function that makes the body whole, healthy, and living is reinforcement of the intentional designs and differences of gifts, abilities, and talents God imbues in all of us. Our variety of talents, just as the presence of our weaknesses—which drive us to seek communal aid and help from others with strengths to offset and account for our own shortcomings—are what make us a vibrant and diverse community: both in faith as well as mankind in whole. Man is not meant to be entirely isolated and self-sustaining. We are designed and intended as communal creatures (I say and believe this even as a strong introvert that, most days, is entirely content to be alone and working in a field). We are meant to live and share our spirit and faith with one another in acts, engagements, offerings to one another. This is what keeps communities connected and elevates our collective, communal, spirit.
Maybe, in our present time when most communities have lost their originating gathering for purpose of interdependence—when nearly everything is manufactured, stored, and shipped from somewhere else and often even now bypasses mercantile sites and delivered straight to door—a refocus of communal connection is something that would improve the spirit of the places where we live. Though communities may no longer have a material need for interdependence, I believe, spiritually, we still do. Without interconnection, how else do we share and offer the gifts God imparts in us for the purpose of aiding and helping others?
Next, Saint Paul speaks to the necessity of us to live with minds that are not exploited by “every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive…”
Saint Paul then proceeds in his speaking and encouragement to us (still—two thousand years after his writing):
“This then I say and testify in the Lord: that henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of blindness of their hearts. Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness…Be renewed in the spirit of your mind: and put onto the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth. Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor; for we are all members of another. Be angry, and sin not. Let no the sun go down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil…Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be but away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind to one another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.”
With respect to not being confused, misdirected, and exploited by “every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive,” how is this relevant today? In our present secular culture, what continuity do we have in societal truths? Without a grounding in natural law, founded on the premise of unalterable truths established by a recognized God, what keeps mankind from the chaos and disorder that becomes a cultural philosophy, pseudo-religion, of nihilistic nonsense driven by the loudest and most violent voice?
How often, in present societal debates, do the arguments of interested parties change for the purpose of effect said party seeks to impart on another’s perception?
Paul’s words stay true today.
Next, how often—in the vanity of our thoughts—do the we and the powers of the world impart judgments, often erroneous, because of our own pride and overvaluing of our own greatness? As we proceed in a social recession—orchestrated an overseen by the professed experts of economics, business, energy, politics, diplomacy; which none could foresee (and whose policies are contributors to the cause) and to which none have an answer; who are perpetually proven predictions and present-day pontifications of hubris—how do Paul’s words still resonate for the need of seeing truth as it is, being open to receptions of spirit, rather than blinding ourselves from the life of God on account of our own vanity and pride?
Maybe our world’s answers are not to be solved by politics and power prosecuted by the vain; but by a restoration of humility and listening and openness to God’s guidance.
On despair, when we lose faith, when we lose hope, what keeps us from falling off without concern or care to so many other snares this world sets for spirits?
To me, it’s Faith, Hope—God—that brings us back and gives chance for restoration when we fall into these snares. We can call it willpower, and—yes—that is the piece of it. But the desire to change, to become better and nearer to the ideal we are meant to be; that remains a vision and gift of God.
“Let not the sun go down upon your anger.”
When we dwell and hold to anger and resentments, do they ever improve?
God grants us mercy. God grants us forgiveness? Who are we to deny gifting to others what we, ourselves, have been given?
“Be ye kind to one another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.”
When we live kindness, mercy, and forgiveness; the sources of our anger weaken. We heal our own enmity by letting it go; remembering too we have had our moments when we have failed, needed and been granted mercy and forgiveness, and when we live amongst others aware to our own imperfections, moments of failure, and granted mercies: the troubles we see become less, and the burdens we hold to are lessened—because we let them go.
What do you believe?
Follow me back