Letting go can be difficult sometimes. It’s usually the letting go of things that have become habits or even a part of us that are the hardest to let go of. I’m sure most of us have experienced those phases in our lives when we’ve had to say goodbye to our old selves and hello to better versions of our new selves. This process often happens during big transition periods in our life, but in some way, it should be taking place on a regular basis. I don’t think we are ever in a state in this life where we can’t improve, or can’t become greater than the person we were yesterday. We can be less doubtful, less anxious, less angry, less sinful. But we can also be more loving, more patient, more compassionate, more forgiving.
“Putting of the old” and “putting on the new” can be a daily thing. Becoming less of what we want and becoming more like Christ can be and should be a continuous ongoing process. Putting off the old and isn’t meant to be an easy task, but I believe with a mind and heart focused on Christ’s endless mercy we are made capable to be more – not just more like Christ, but more of ourselves, the version that He intends and hopes for us to be.
“The things of this world do not remain constantly with us, for if we do not leave them before we actually die, in death at least we all infallibly depart as empty-handed as we came” – The Maxims and Counsels of St. Philip Neri for September 9th
“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!” – First Reading for today, September 9th, Colossians 3:1-11