Every day we make the decision of what clothing we are going to wear. So too we must consciously choose to put on qualities which allow virtue to spring forth in our life. We must take on the clothing of a Christian such as that baptismal garment that we received at our baptism and keep it white as snow.
The many things that we choose to surround ourself with effects the way in which we encounter the world and our relationship with God. If we spend all our time chasing after the ways of the world we would of done nothing to pursue a relationship with God. Rather, we must put on Christ for He ought to be the one to whom our life is oriented.
Our Gospel presented us with the wheat and cockle. As it grows the cockle which is poison in nature looks as if it is wheat. It can only be separated at the time of the harvest. So too we must allow our own life to avoid those harmful distractions which lead astray from living out a life of faith.
Saint Paul’s list of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience must be fostered and allowed to be made manifest in our life. Most of all, we must grow in the virtue of love. Without such a virtue it becomes impossible to live out a life of faith because we are found too busy turning inwardly upon ourself.
Our modern day society has lowered this virtue of love to the point that it is found to be without deep meaning. Love can be seen upon the cross when the Lord offers His life without reservation in order that we may be redeemed. Love is that relationship that exists in the Most Holy Trinity which is most perfectly given asking for nothing in return of the other.
If we are to grow in the virtue of love we must come to know God and be willing to share what we receive with others. The love of God is found to be abundant and without end. Therefore, there is always something more for us to grow in if we are to love as God loves. This virtue must influence all of our relationships from one’s child, to one’s spouse, and to all those whom we encounter especially the most difficult.
In the words of Saint Philip Neri, “Prayer and communion are not to be made or desired for the sake of the devotion we feel in them, for that is seeking self, and not God; but we must be frequent in both the one and the other in order to become humble, obedient, gentle, and patient. When we see these virtues in a man, then we know that he has really gathered the fruit of prayer and of communion.”
Let us us depart from here with that fervent desire to grow in such virtue. If we see that vice has taken over our life it can only be moved out through the pursuit of virtue. Let us not be content with allowing the cockle to take over our life. Instead let us be willing to orient our sight unto God and to be found willing to move towards Him with the confidence of faith each day.
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