Thirtieth Monday in Ordinary Time

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

We should seek to be imitators of God in all things, especially in the way we know, love, and serve others. We should be compassionate, merciful, and forgiving. We should be kind and good and seek to do what is right. We should offer ourselves as living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others. We must strive to live in love as Christ loved us. This requires a willingness to sacrifice ourselves for what is right and to suffer for God. It means living a life that mirrors Jesus' life from beginning to end. This isn't always easy, but it is a lighter yoke than the chains of sin and will lead us to everlasting life if we are willing to follow in Christ's footsteps.

How can we become more like Christ in our every thought, word, and work? How can we live in love? In what ways can we become more compassionate and forgiving?

O Lord, help us to become good and faithful imitators of you in all things.

Amen.