Today’s readings are summarized nicely in the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians:

I 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 persevere in the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace;

Jesus’ instruction in the Gospel is not quite as clear, but I believe his message is that we should be as wise in our human interactions as we are at predicting the weather. We should be as sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we are to the changing winds. How best to reconcile the inevitable differences of human life than to persevere in love?!

When my siblings and I were growing up, we had our share of squabbles, and inevitably, we would eventually hear Mom say: “Children, love one another!” Always as instruction, and sometimes out of sheer frustration!

I hear Mom speaking through today’s readings.

Even our Holy Father in his recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, is trying to get the attention of the human family to put aside our many differences by persevering in love. Here is just one quote to consider:

At a time when various forms of fundamentalist intolerance are damaging relationships between individuals, groups and peoples, let us be committed to living and teaching the value of respect for others, a love capable of welcoming differences, and the priority of the dignity of every human being over his or her ideas, opinions, practices and even sins.(Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, number 191)

We are one family, with great diversity of gifts. Let us strive to preserve in the unity that is ours – under One God.

Peace,

+pde

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