Many times in our lives, we may have heard anecdotes like "walk the talk" or "practice what you preach" or "show by example." It is not enough to just say nice words or give advice, we also need to show what we mean or believe in. For example, if we call ourselves kind and generous, then we should show our kindness and generosity to all, not just to only certain persons or communities. This is because our kindness and generosity ought to be for the benefit of all, not for us to demonstrate our prejudice or biasedness. This is why it may seem easy to say things, but it is not so easy for us to follow through and do as we say.
In today's reading, we are reminded: "We prove
we are servants of God by great fortitude in times of suffering: in
times of hardship and distress; when we are flogged, or sent to prison,
or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving. We prove we are God’s
servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of
holiness, by a love free from affectation; by the word of truth and by
the power of God; by being armed with the weapons of righteousness in
the right hand and in the left, prepared for honour or disgrace, for
blame or praise; taken for impostors while we are genuine; obscure yet
famous; said to be dying and here are we alive; rumoured to be executed
before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always
rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich, for people
having nothing though we have everything."
Ultimately,
all that we do, all that we say, is for what purpose? It is for the glory of God. Being a disciple of Christ means there is no place for
personal glory or personal gratification. May we be genuine and humble in who we are and all we do, and may we do it happily and willingly, so that all may know we are Christians by our love.
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