Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Italy, 2011
“When anyone speaks, it should be like words of God. When anyone ministers, it should be from the virtue that God provides, so that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him is glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
We often speak before we think. We often act out of habit, without understanding the reason we act.
In 1 Peter we are told that our words should be like God’s, that our actions should come out of virtues instilled in us. In other words, we should not just be going through the motions by saying what we think others want to hear, and by doing what we think is expected of us.
First, we must discern what should be said, what must be said. We must speak in such a way as to always give honor and glory to God. We must speak in such a way as to further His will. To do so, we must strive to keep our words and conversations about things that are good and holy, that do not tear down, that do not cause us, or another, to sin. We must think before we speak.
We also must discern the reason for our actions. Do we act out of selfishness or selflessness? Do our actions come from an innate desire to do good, to help others, or to make ourselves look good? Our motives must honor God. We must act and serve in a Godly manner because it feels right in our soul.
1 Peter 4:12 adds another dimension to our words and actions. Not only must we think before we speak, and act in a God honoring way, but we must “not choose to sojourn in the passion that is a temptation.” We know the things that tempt us, whether they be food, lust, deceit, gossip, etc. We are specifically told not to hang around these temptations, thereby increasing out chances for sinful behavior. We are not to repeatedly put ourselves in harm’s way!
But 1 Peter is not just about telling us what not to do, but also offers an anecdote for these unwanted behaviors. “But instead, commune in the Passion of Christ, and be glad that, when his glory will be revealed, you too may rejoice with exultation.” (1 Peter 4:13)
Commune, according to Merriam-Webster, means to communicate intimately with. We are to become intimate with Christ in His Passion. Lent is a perfect time to work on this special and holy intimacy. Reflect on His Passion by reading it in The Gospels, by praying and reflecting on the Stations of The Cross. Act on it by finding ways to sacrifice, to experience self denial. Give to your fellowman, the poor, the sick, the suffering out of the innate virtue of goodness in your heart.
When you commune in the Passion of Christ, the rest will fall into place. To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to love all others. To love others is to become like Him in both our words and actions. And when we become like Him, we can be glad, knowing that when His glory is revealed, we too may rejoice with exultation. We too may share in His resurrected Life Eternal.
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“But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am?” Mark 8:29
