Father Mike Schmitz

I appreciate that.

The fact is not only did I feel myself justified in that moment in mass, but also what is Paul's point?

Paul's point is you have an obligation to each other.

You belong to each other.

I think Mother Teresa once said, if we have no peace, it's because we've forgotten that we belong to each other.

That the wife, she belongs to her husband and the husband, he belongs to his wife.

that the children, they belong to the parents and the parents, they belong to the children and we belong to each other.

And that is so critically important that we continue this way.

And last little note, chapter four, as St.

Paul leaves the Colossians here with his further instructions, chapter four, verse two, he says, continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

And pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ.

And this is so important, to pray for each other.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

So important.

Everything that Paul and Peter have written that we've heard declared today are absolutely critical for Christian living.

And so that's why we have to keep coming back to the word because it just goes sometimes in one ear and out the other.

Sometimes it just washes over our heart and we just want to remember it.

We want to store it up in our hearts.

We want to have it carved into our hearts.

And it's so easy to forget.