Sharing the Faith and more from Colossians

It sure has taken me a long time to write on last week's catechism discussion. It was delightful to get back after such a long break (we haven't met since before Christmas) and the reading was wonderful. It was one of the sort of readings that doesn't tend to bring about much in the way of disagreement, but is more delightful to bask in as a group. St. Paul offers a great reminder that being a Christian isn't simply about avoiding sin. If it doesn't go farther, it isn't authentic. We were particularly struck by the beautiful exhortations on how to share the faith with others. Here are two favorite quotes. The first is particularly familiar to me as I memorized it as a child when preparing to read it for a children's Mass in grade school.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This one was less familiar to me, but I loved the sense it gives of how we ought to mediate the truth for others.

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.