The secret to holiness is being able to see every situation as God's will, whether it's his perfect will or his permissive will, and to trust in that without self-pity or resentment.
There were 276 persons on the ship with St. Paul.
Paul advised them not to set sail from Crete, warning that the voyage would result in injury, loss of cargo, and even lives, but his advice was not heeded.
Paul urged the passengers to take some food, assuring them that no lives would be lost, and he led by example by taking bread, giving thanks, and eating in front of them.
The main theme of Ephesians 4 is unity in the body of Christ, emphasizing the need for lowliness, meekness, patience, and love to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ means a race to serve, not dominate, where both husbands and wives submit to each other, with husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church by laying down their lives for them.
St. Paul advises slaves to obey their masters with sincerity and masters to treat their slaves well, emphasizing that both are equal before God, who shows no partiality.
The primary battle Christians are engaged in is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, world rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
Fr. Mike Schmitz emphasizes the importance of imitating God by walking in love, renouncing immorality and impurity, and living as children of light, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Christ.
Fr. Mike Schmitz highlights the story to illustrate the secret to holiness: trusting in God's will even in difficult and perilous situations, showing no self-pity or resentment.
Fr. Mike highlights a secret to holiness visible in Paul’s ability to see his arduous trip to Rome as the will of God. He also clears up confusion in regards to Paul’s direction for wives to be subject to their husbands, again drawing our attention to our call to love and serve while being subject to each other out of reverence for Christ. Today’s readings are Acts 27, Ephesians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:22-24.
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