Categories: self-esteem, bible
Date: 29 June 2007 12:24:50
Thank you for the kind comments on the post below: it is particularly special, to me, as the Employee of the Month award is based on nominations from staff members: it is nice to know I'm well thought of -- I'll try not to let it get to my head!
At the same time, though, I know I am indeed a fallen and fallible human: I get, all too often, testy or frustrated, especially lately, and while colleagues excuse it and say, "We understand the pressure you're under," it doesn't make it any better -- that horrid feeling when you realise you've been unintentionally short with someone and taken them aback. It is not pleasant.
But it is good to be reminded that one still has a long way to go on one's earthly pilgrimage to even approach within miles of Matthew 5:48, and it is only by struggling and fighting such passions, and, of course, through the endless Love and Grace of the Triune God, that we can make any progress.
Reading Philippians 2:12-18 tonight brought this home, and brought the commandment to "let your light shine" [Matthew 5:16], particularly verses 14 and 15:
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,RSV, Catholic Edition
"...To put it briefly, the relationship of Christians is to the world as that of soul to body. As the soul is diffused through every part of the body, so are Christians through all the world" (Letter to Diognetus, 2; 6,1).
Today, as then, Christians continue to be a leaven of spiritual and truly human life. Nothing human is a matter of indifference to them.
..."People should be able to recognize the Master in his disciples" (J Escrivá, Christ is passing by, 105).