9th Tuesday of Ordinary
Memorial of Saint Boniface
2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18; Mark 12:13-17
As we await the second coming, Saint Peter exhorts us to maintain purity of heart and holiness of life. There is more to Christian living than merely acquiring knowledge about the faith. Saint James picks up on this theme. “Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17). Our lives must be governed by the law of kindness and our actions demonstrate truth and justice. Recall the instruction we received from the apostle John: “Dear children, let us not love with words or talk, but with actions and in sincerity” (1 Jn. 3:18). Here is the mystery of Divine Love: He who was rich became poor to make us rich in grace. He poured himself out that we might be filled up with the life-creating spirit. Because we have received an abundance of grace, our lives are no longer our own but His. Following the example of the One who came to serve us, we must service others.
When we were baptized, we stripped off the old self and clothed ourselves in Christ (CF. Gal. 3:27). We have become sons and daughters in the Son. He became Bread for the Life of the world. Like Him we must become bread blessed and broken for others. The putting on of Christ consists not merely in outward imitation but in an entire transformation into the person of Christ. Through baptism we have been conformed to the person of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. Therefore our care must be to do the will of him who cares for us. Clinging to Christ, we must put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of Light. The more we allow the Light of Christ to glow within us, the more we become guides for those who are lost in the valley of darkness and death.
Recall the words of Jesus: “You are the Light of the World. You cannot hide a city that has been built upon a mountain top” (Mat. 5:14). Not only has He overshadowed us with the life-creating Spirit, but he has also drawn us to the heights of the mountain of transfiguration with the bonds of love. In the light of glory, we are called to make manifest God’s loving kindness for the world. As Christ was obedient to the Father, we are called to be obedient to Christ. As Christ revealed all that the Father had made known to Him, so we are to make known all that Christ has revealed to us. As followers of Christ, it is our duty to live out our faith in every aspect of our life. Let us labor to know Christ more clearly so that we may become more like him and better make him known. Let us strive towards that day when Christ will be our refuge and dwelling place. On that day Christ will satisfy all our longings and draw us close to the Father’s heart.
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