Examination of conscience

It is good for us to take a look regularly at how we are living our lives and whether we are living up to the path set before us by Christ. In the daily activities of our lives in this world we can too easily get caught in this world’s ways and take our eyes off our true goal in the world beyond this one.

Today’s readings each provide us good opportunities for this kind of self-examination, the Gospel most importantly (Luke 6:20-26):

Blessed are you
when people hate you,
and when they exclude
and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.

But woe to you
who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.

But woe to you
who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.

Woe to you
who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you
when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets
in this way.

In the first reading (Colossians 3:1-11), St. Paul gives a very detailed list of attitudes and behaviors that we must remove from our lives. Indeed, it could easily be rewritten into a litany:

The parts of you that are earthly – put them away.
Immorality – put it away.
Impurity – put it away.
Passion, - put it away.
Evil desire – put it away.
The greed that is idolatry – put it away.
Anger –put it away.
Fury – put it away.
Malice – put it away.
Slander – put it away.
Obscene language – put it away.
Lying – put it away.

(To which a younger person might add the following coda:)

put it away put it away put it away now
put it away put it away put it away now
put it away put it away put it away now
anger, fury, malice, slander, obscene language

However we remember to do it, we need to remember to make good examinations of conscience regularly and seek to live the life of Christ more perfectly by his grace.