Bearing with one another and forgiving one another

“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” (COL 3: 12-13)

St. Paul is very realistic, he knows human nature and he knows how challenging love can be: “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” Even people of really good will, working hard to make them better, have some difficulties in some areas and need to be accepted with their weakness; all of us have some relatives or friends we need to “bear.”

“If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (Gospel Acclamation)