Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9)
What have we heard, received, and seen in Jesus? Paul suggests truth, honor, just actions, purity, loveliness, graciousness, excellence, and praiseworthy behavior. That’s quite a list few items of which we can check off as describing us. In fact, Jesus likely would have raised his eyebrows or chuckled at such a characterization for him. This was the man from Galilee who was human, so he had faults, as we do. But he knew his God through prayer and petition, and he wished the same for us. Do we? Do we make our requests known to God all the while giving thanks?
Do we recognize lies when we hear them? Do we ignore dishonorable behavior? Do we object to injustice? Do we ignore or justify unpraiseworthy and disrespectful behavior, or do we call it out for what it is – anti-Christian and what we Catholics are supposed to oppose?
What do we see when we raise our eyes at Christ the King to Jesus high on his cross? Just a figure of a man who died about 2,000 years ago at the hand of his oppressors? Would we have taken him down if we had been there?
We can take him down today and tomorrow when we hear, receive, and see Jesus. He looks down at us with expectation. Do we disappoint him?
Deacon David Pierce
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