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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit.
A prisoner for the Lord. How often do I consider myself a "prisoner for the Lord"? Not very often, I must say. How unfortunate for me!
Far too often I see myself as a "prisoner" to my own passions or sensuality, or to my pride and vanity. Oh how I wish I could embrace being a prisoner for the Lord, which is so much more liberating and exciting!
And what exactly does it mean to be "a prisoner for the Lord"?
To live in a manner worthy of the call. A prisoner of the Lord sees people and things as the Lord sees them: with great humility.
God continues to be amazed at His very own creation. So much so that His only begotten Son was created in the image and likeness of man! This is remarkable. God so loved us that He became one of us! He understands that the word "power" is entirely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally associated with another word: HUMILITY.
If you want others to adore you, then you must adore them.
If you want people to worship you, then you must worship them.
If you want people to love you, then you must love them.
If you want people to appreciate you, then you must appreciate them.
If you want people to bend their knees and bow down to you and serve you, then you must bend your knees, bow down to them and serve them.
It's that simple...and scary...yet exciting.
LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE CALL.
Bearing with one another through love. It seems like the political race is beginning to heat up. Some candidates are beginning to throw insult upon insult, thinking that it will get them to the Presidency - thinking it is the perfect strategy. But we humans are fickle creatures. We enjoy a good spectacle for a short while. Not for long periods of time. There's a lot we can learn from those who lived in the years B.C., who slowly but surely grew weary of spectacles and scandals on and off the arena. We don't have to be prisoners to those who grow in power through insult or arrogance or insecurity.
A calling from God is a calling from former ways to new ways. It is the divine call to share in God's love and truth, which brings people together (unity) and results in peace.
We can be prisoners to those who grow in power through love. And that is a blessing!
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