Following up on last week’s gospel, about picking up our cross. This week’s readings remind us that a cross is unavoidable if we follow God’s desires. The world will confront us because our faith is obnoxious to them. They will play games to trip us up and do all they can to make our faith sound like a hypocrisy. Some of that is because they are filled with jealousy and selfish ambition, which create “disorder and every foul practice.” In the mist of this negativity, we are called to remain pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.”
Just because we are Christians does not mean we are immune to jealousy and ambition. Even as Jesus was explaining he was going to be killed, the disciples debated among themselves, who was the greatest. Are we willing to be the servant of all? Even to those who may wish to do us harm?
Countenance of God 