23rd Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 11th September 2025

In Christian Hans Andersen’s story of the Emperor’s New Clothes, deception is displayed by two dishonest tailors. They deceived the vain emperor to believe that he was adorned in the most magnificent clothes, invisible but only seen by wise people. However, the vain parade ended with an innocent child’s laughter that the emperor was actually naked. The profound lesson simply says that, as Christians, we are not clothed by vanity or deception.

In Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, he extols the community of believers to mark their privileged identity by putting on the new garment of holiness, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, forgiveness and love. These virtues transform their old deceptive way of life into living as members of the Body of Christ – in peace, harmony and with a forgiving and grateful heart.

Has my whole new look of life in trusting and imbibing Jesus created any beneficial effect towards others and my home environment? Jesus challenges us to walk out of our comfort zone, to love beyond the limit of the norms of society. Flattering each other to feel good, indifferent to the needs of others, doing just what is convenient and expected are unbecoming characteristics as Jesus’ disciples.

To love without counting the cost, to forgive without condition and to show care to our enemies and public utilities is conduct that melts hostility and vandalism. Jesus empowers us to create a ripple effect of honesty to diffuse deceptions that have marred our Christian identity.

PRAYER Lord Jesus, let me never forget that You have clothed me with truthfulness.