In the first chapters of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains to them the many ways God has blessed and graced their community. He states that as a result of those blessings, they are to walk in a manner that is consistent with that holiness and those blessings which they have received. Paul is under house arrest at this time in Rome, so he therefore calls himself a prisoner for the Lord in his letter. He states that the attributes they are to follow are humility, gentleness, and patience. These virtues are consistent with a life of servanthood, of being of service to others, not putting ourselves above others. It is easy for us to get impatient with things. It is easy to us to just see things from our own perspective and to not think of the needs and perspective of others. Paul states that the one faith, the one baptism, and the one Lord are to unite us and bring us together. I guess that with serving as a missionary in different countries, and of going to other Dioceses representing our Diocese of Jackson to give mission appeals and to celebrate Mass in different parts of the country, of approaching my life as a priest through the lens of service and servanthood, I see the daily lived reality of this message Paul is communicating to us today. May we all to live out our faith as servants and with a sense of community, of serving the Lord together.
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