The first reading from today offers an interesting perspective. Paul is not presenting that we receive Jesus’ teaching, philosophy, or theology. He is saying that the Church in Colossea has “received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).
They have received Jesus, and are to walk in him, be rooted in him and built upon him. This is what distinguishes Christianity from other faith traditions. We are called to enter into a relationship with a person, the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God who became one with us in our humanity so that we can become one with him in his divinity! This man who we are invited to place our trust in is Jesus!
As Catholics, we encounter Jesus intimately in the sacraments. When we were baptized, our old self died with him, we were born again in him and are now a part of his Body. We were empowered by the Holy Spirit at Confirmation and are nourished each time we receive his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Reconciliation restores our connection when it has been wounded or broken when Jesus forgives us from our sins through the concrete words of absolution offered to us by a priest.
Jesus is also present to us in our everyday activities. The key is to open our hearts and minds and invite him into all aspects of our lives and we will become more aware of his walking with us. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we spend time with him in prayer and worship, invite him into our challenges and struggles, our celebrations, as well as our mundane activities, the more rooted in him we will become.
St. Paul is inviting us to build our relationship with Jesus and as we do so, he will become so much more present to us, like breathing itself. Making the time to reflect and thank him, “abounding in thanksgiving” when he provides his help and support, his guidance, and his strength also builds our awareness of how much he is present in our lives.
May our loving God and Father enfold you with his loving embrace so that you know he has you in his care and will protect you. May the Holy Spirit fall afresh upon you and fill your mind, your heart, and your soul, with his peace, that peace that surpasses all understanding. May his presence gently dissolve any weight, stress, and/or strain that your bodies and minds have been experiencing. And may you receive Jesus’ outstretched hand, that he may lead you this day. Continue to lean on him as you need to, and he will renew your strength.
Trust in Jesus, his Father, and the Holy Spirit!
Photo: St. Mark Catholic Church, Venice Beach, CA.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 