In the same way, you who are younger must be subject to the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5-6
“Paint your house the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord. You will be able to receive Him as in a splendid palace, and through His grace you will already possess him, His image enthroned in the temple of your spirit.”
John Chrysostom (347-407) in Homily 6 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 515.
My wife loves to paint rooms. It adds beauty and color. She’s good at it. And it sets a mood and sends a message of welcome. Then she decorates with simplicity and special care. She’s good at that too.
And then I located this reading. Chrysostom, known for his eloquence, does not disappoint.
His exhortation to us: paint and decorate. This is powerful and timely. Soon, my wife and I head to serve war-weary stewards in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. And what should we say to people trying to rebuild their broken world.
Paint and decorate. Brilliant! “Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity.”
So, how does this relate to you and me? We must paint our lives with modesty and humility. And adorn them with the best accessories, faith and generosity.
Ponder the implications for your life.
What would it look like to paint with humility and modesty and decorate with faith and generosity? Now don’t just think about it, follow the leading of the Spirit and take action.
Read more