Meditation Monday, September 13, 2021

by Scott Stapel, Spiritual Director

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Colossians 3:12, NRSV

So much in this verse to contemplate!

“As God’s chosen ones…” starts right out by laying claim to everything we are and do. It lets us know it is not just a way of living, it is a way of being. What a gift! To be chosen also brings an immense amount of gratitude, but only when we remember we were chosen. And believe it.  

Being chosen means we did not earn it. It was an act of grace. Our Heavenly Father, knowing our past, present and future, still chose us. Still chose you. Still chose me.

(From my catechism: Grace – God’s unearned love and favor)

“…holy and beloved…” Holy? Yes! Because God has chosen you. (Try walking around saying that to yourself all day). Holy has always felt like it was someone or something else. Holy scripture. Holy church. Holy Bible, but I cannot remember ever saying holy Scott! God said you and I are holy, because of God’s grace.

Beloved is a little easier for me to grasp, only because I know how blessed AND loved I am. There are many things we can point to that reflect being blessed…but being forgiven and being invited to deepen our relationship with God are certainly some of the bigger ones that easily come to mind. So much grace is given that there is enough left over to share with others. What a gift!

“…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

I love the image of clothing yourself. To put on, to wrap around, to be some of the first things people notice about you. It does not seem like this is a request, but more a way of being, a way of reflecting “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.”   

And sadly, easier said than done. It certainly is easier to see where others (God’s chosen ones) fail to reflect this. Seems easy to point out where others lack compassion or kindness. I find myself asking, where is the humility and meekness? And certainly, it seems like patience is almost gone. Sadly, I can see where I have failed in all of these areas. I would like to blame it on Covid and our current situation, but then again, there is always something going on.  

I invite you to spend some time this week contemplating, praying and/or journaling your thoughts concerning this meditation.