Colossians 2:6-7 (NABRE)
So, as you
received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established
in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving
There is a story about a war veteran who was having a very
hard time in his life. He had went to
battle a leader of men and returned as a hero that was looked up to by
many. After his return from service, it
became the story of a veteran suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). In this suffering, he tried to remove his
pain and self medicated with alcohol, only to developed dependency
problems. He soon lost his wife to
illness and his problems only became worse. His only son went to live with relatives and his drinking caused him to
lose contact.
Later in life as the veteran was seeking help for his addiction and PTSD, he
unsuccessfully tried to contact his son. His son only remembering the heartbreak of his fathers drinking pushed
him away. A close friend from his
military service intervened trying to help his former commander. The friend spoke with the son, who still refused to
meet with his father.
The veteran thought it was too late to repair his relationship with his son. The injured
warrior was ready to give up; afraid that his son would never accept him. The friend told him that he was a good man
and his son was a good man. The friend told him you were built with good tools and whether you know it or not you passed
those good tools down to your son. In the end, the son came to his father.
Today we celebrated the life of a dear lady who passed away. She was wife, a mother, a teacher and a
faithful Catholic. When people
remembered her, they spoke of how she always gave of herself. Even though they did not phrase the same way, she was a builder who left her tools behind. She loved to
learn and shared that love of learning with her students. She left part of her tools with so many students. She was an advocate for abuse children, she left part of her self with these children. In all her works of charity, she left part of her tools behind. Even, her two son-in-laws spoke of the tools that she had passed on to her
daughters to make them strong women.
There is another story of passing on of the tools that build a person. It is found in the story of Jesus. It may be in a way that is not often considered.
Jesus, the son of God was also
raised as the son of the earthly man, Joseph.
Joseph the carpenter, who raised him, provided for him, gave him a roof,
brought him to temple, and taught him to be a carpenter. Joseph taught Jesus how to be a good
man. He taught him all he knew about
being a devout Jew. Joseph walked in the way of God in the Jewish faith and
this is the faith that Joseph, the carpenter, taught Jesus. A good father passed down the meager tools that
he had as a man to the Son of God.
Today churches are complaining about the world being post
Christian. Churches worry that their
congregations are graying and shrinking.
This could be because to many of the people responsible for building up
the faith did not build it as they were taught.
They do not teach a faith abounding in Thanksgiving. They did not have the correct tools to pass
on.
But with Christ Jesus, it is never too late. Rooted in him and built in him, the tools have been left in us. Take those tools and go work
with others. You will always leave a
little bit of those behind. Even the smallest tool can begin the building
a new life.
Prayer –
Lord let your wisdom lead us to use the tools of faith you
gave us. Let us be generous in serving you
so that the tools you gave us may be used in our service through our life, our
thoughts, and our actions. May we leave
a faith with those we touch, so that they may walk in the newness of life found
in you. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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