Holy Prophet Hosea (8th c. BC). Venerable-Martyr Andrew of Crete (767).
Colossians 4:2-9. Luke 9:49-56.
Read Colossians 4:2-9
St. Paul instructs the Colossians to “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). As Christians, our relationship with God needs to be our highest priority in life, and our relationship with Him is nourished through prayer. In fact, prayer is so important that at the end of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul told them to: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). It is God’s will that we pray without ceasing! God wants us to draw ever closer to Him.
Paul also instructs the Colossians to “conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one” (Col. 4:5-6). These instructions are still applicable to us today when speaking with non-Christians. We need to “speak the truth in love” (see Eph. 4:15), and we must do so with knowledge and wisdom so that we will know how to respond to questions and any accusations made against us by nonbelievers. Of course, even though we must “season our speech with salt,” Jesus also tells us that “when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk. 12:11-12). Even though we should always prepare ourselves to have difficult conversations, we need to trust that God is not leaving us helpless but will inspire us. Forming a strong relationship with God and learning to pray without ceasing, we will become more and more aware that God is always present to us. God is actively involved in our lives.