Rising with Christ is not just by the word of mouth

 

Rising with Christ is about renewal of mind. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, September 13th, 2023
Texts: Colossians 3:1-11; Psalm 145:2-3,10-13; Luke 6:20-26 

St. Paul reminds us today that rising with Christ is not just by the word of mouth but also way of life. Hence, he says, “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Rising with Christ also includes making heavenly things our thought; it is about savouring heavenly things. Rising with Christ is about renewal of mind.  

The rising is from the dead. Hence,  something must die in us, which we survive. St. Paul says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” He adds, “But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Rising with Christ comes with new knowledge and life. 

When we rise with Christ we lose savour for earthly glory

Rising with Christ is not about earthly things. It is the loss of savour for earthly things or glory. Hence, Jesus tells us today that there is blessing for the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the hated and excluded. Jesus declares woe for the rich, the full, the laughing and the praised. When we rise with Christ we lose savour for earthly glory.  

St. Paul reminds us that the renewal of rising with Christ is rewarding. Rising with Christ also entails appearing with Him in glory. In his words: “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” It is the desire of every Christian to appear with Christ in glory. Hence, our renewal by rising with Christ fulfils our deepest desire in God.  

The memorial of St. John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom, whose memorial is today, put to death in his life earthly passion by his way of ascetic life. By his life he teaches us to kill the passion of the flesh and how to do it by ascetic life. He was also a priest who later became the patriarch of Constantinople. He laboured to renew the ways of both clergy and lay faithful. “His sermons and writings did much to explain the Catholic faith and to encourage the living of the Christian life” (Universalis). 

In conclusion, the message today is that rising with Christ recreates us and renew us. We are yet to rise with Christ without experiencing the creative and renewing power of being raised with Him. The new experience manifests in concern for heavenly things and glory.  

Prayer  

God our Father, show forth in us the power of resurrection; help us to put to death in us the things of the flesh, that we might be seen to rise with Christ, Your Son. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke