From: Carolyn Stickney
I have always found the beginning of Ephesians 4 to be one of Paul's more challenging exhortations (and that's saying something, right?): walk in a manner worthy of the calling. And without necessarily thinking of this particular passage, I think it's something that I've been turning over in my mind more than usual the last few weeks. Amidst the chaos and pain and confusion in our country right now, what does it look like to live our lives in Christ worthily? Happily, Paul also provides some slightly more concrete suggestions: with all humility, gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It strikes me that I often consider those characteristics to be passive ones, but in fact they aren't. Being humble, gentle, and patient doesn't merely equate to being not proud, aggressive, and irritable; they're an active assumption of a posture that wants to hear clearly, to understand fully, and to love deeply. The only way that we can do these things consistently is to root ourselves in Christ by a commitment to grow up in every way into him who is the head. So Paul's words are challenging, but by the grace of God, we have the tools to respond. As we continue to engage in catechesis and discussion in our community this year, let's pray that we are formed into people who can answer the call to walk worthily.
Originally from the heartland of this country, I've spent the last seven and a half years coming to love Boston as home. I moved to Jamaica Plain three months ago, and I'd love to have you over to visit. And if you give me fair warning, I will probably try to bake you something.