March 12

Fifth Tuesday after Epiphany

But, brethren, by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13.

“Put on therefore,” says S. Paul to the Colossians, “as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies.” “Put on,” that is, as of something which ye had not before, which is not of nature, the “new commandment” of Christ’s love. He had just said, “Put on the new man,” and here, “Put on bowels of mercies”—all that human compassion and tenderness which were seen in Christ when He took on Him our nature. The word perhaps alludes to the white clothing put on at baptism. “Put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;” and then applying the same more particularly, “forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; if any man have a quarrel [or matter of complaint] against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Literally, it is “graciously accept” him, though you may have cause to blame, as Christ has been gracious to you. “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” “Above all these,” because there is no need of forbearance and forgiveness and long-suffering where there is love, for it includes it all; or it may be translated, “upon all these,” or “in addition to all these,” put on charity; in like manner as by S. Peter it is added as the last crown to other graces; and it is the “bond of perfectness,” it is the perfect bond which unites together all in Christ. Our Lord in S. Luke’s Gospel says, “Be ye merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful;” and in S. Matthew, “Be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect;” so that the very “perfectness” of a Christian consists in this compassionate love, for Christ says—

Thou must learn, in loving, First to follow Me;