Get out of the bunker

As Christians and as members of the Church, we are not like everyone else and we strive to live truths that many others do not recognize and that some aggressively oppose.

Some of us take this several steps too far: developing a “bunker mentality”.

But in today’s first reading (Titus 3:1-7), Saint Paul encourages Christians to obey those who exercise authority even in a pagan and oppressive government, continuing the theme of good civil behavior while living transformative lives.

And in today’s Gospel (Luke 17:11-19), our Lord points to the good example given by a foreigner (whose religion is not exactly orthodox).

We need to live respectful and respectable lives and to see the good wherever it exists, even as we seek always to understand and live more perfectly the truth and love that comes from God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.