Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity AD 2026

In today’s Epistle, Saint Paul speaks of our vocation. God has called us out of darkness and given us new life and the hope of eternity in His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the grace bestowed upon us through faith and baptism, just as Our Lord Himself said before His Ascension: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

The Apostle therefore urges us to walk worthy of this vocation— “with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

These are essential Christian virtues in which we must continually grow. Yet such growth is possible only if we abide in Christ, like branches in the vine, for apart from Him we can do nothing.

Lowliness means recognizing who we are before God, neither exalting ourselves above others nor placing confidence in ourselves but resting all our hope in His abundant mercy. Meekness means showing that same mercy and generosity to others, bearing patiently with one another in love, just as God bears patiently with us.

True love seeks the good of the beloved, and love alone can bind us together in perfect unity—not only with one another, but above all with God. And this true and perfect union with God is our highest calling.