Dec 09, 2015
Scripture of the Day:
Colossians
3:5-14 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A5-14&version=NRSV)
Thought of the day: Clothed in Christ
In this
advent season we are often concerned about our clothes. We unpack all the
winter clothes to protect ourselves from the harsh cold weather. We might also
be caught up in shopping frenzy and searching for new clothes for our loved
ones. Scripture teaches us the clothing that we ought to be most concerned with
– put on Christ Jesus. St Paul repeatedly employs the clothing metaphor to
teach us about salvation (Rom 13:14; Galatians 3:27). In fact we could even
study the entire salvation history through the lens of clothing metaphor. For
today let us consider the words in Colossians 3.
First
we are reminded of the clothes that we have put away – “you have stripped off
the old self with its practices” (3:9). He also describes the new layers of
clothing that we put on. “You have clothed yourself with the new self, which is
being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator” (3:10). The
new wardrobe that we don is constantly being renewed. The purpose of its
renewal is that we might conform to the image of its creator – Jesus Christ. St
Paul continues to enumerate the different layers we put on – “compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Finally the last piece of clothing
that binds these layers together into a perfect harmony is love (3:14). In this
Christmas season let us ask ourselves whether we have put on the clothes of
Christ. Let us shift our focus away from the earthly clothes to the heavenly
divine clothing given to us by Christ.
Today
is also the 3rd memorial of Late Lamented Mathews Mar Barnabas. Let
us remember Thirumeni in our prayers.
Song of the Day:
Athisudha thronsinmel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHbVasLX2Lw
Icon of the Day:
Andrei
Rublev’s Icon of the Holy Trinity
Quote of the day:
“See
what an insatiable soul! For having said, ‘We are all made children of God
through faith,” he does not stop there, but tries to find something more exact,
which may serve to convey a still closer oneness with Christ. Having Said, ‘ye
have put on Christ,’ even this does not suffice Him, but by way of penetrating more
deeply into this union, he comments on it thus: ‘Ye are all One in Christ Jesus,’
that is, ye have all one form and one mould, even Christ’s. What can be more
awe-inspiring than these words! He that was a Greek, or Jew or bond-man
yesterday carries about with him the form, not of an Angel or Archangel, but of
the Lord of all, yes displays in his own person the Christ.” (St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on
Galatians).
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