“Everything, my son, has meaning. Every word, every gesture, every deed.” (Inner Word)
Becoming aware of this is a path to maturity. It is a final awakening to the reality of God. This certainly does not mean anxiously worrying about whether you are doing something wrong, because that would cause you to become inwardly tense. Our Heavenly Father certainly would not have wanted that, and it would run completely counter to His caring love for us.
Yesterday, at the end of the reflection, I mentioned that I would like to highlight one more sentence from St. Paul to examine more closely. For it is a profound statement that the Apostle to the Gentiles entrusted to the church in Colossae. Here it is:
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister…” (Col 1:24-25a)
Paul is the great apostle to the Gentiles. We remember that, on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians, he experienced his conversion through an encounter with the Lord.
Having turned our attention to the Christological Hymn in all its grandeur, which illuminates the Lord’s person in an incomparable way, let us now consider its final sacred words: “the Head of the Church.”
“He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col 1:18-20)
Once again, it becomes clear that Jesus was sent to reconcile all things to the Father. This is the path God has chosen. When we proclaim this as the Church, we are not pointing to ourselves as Christians as if we are better than everyone else; we are simply stating what God Himself has revealed to us. It would be false humility to withhold the Lord’s message just to avoid giving that impression.
“Even Elijah was weak and needed My strength to continue his ministry” (Inner Word)
Who could forget the great prophet Elijah, who guided his people back to God through great miracles? Was it not he who stood up to King Ahab when the king did things incompatible with God? Was it not he who incurred the hatred of Queen Jezebel, who worshiped Baal and persecuted him when he had her priests put to death, not without first proving that he was acting on behalf of the Most High!
“May my love find such a home within you that it guides all your steps and determines your actions.” (Inner word)
After commending the Colossians’ religious life, the Apostle Paul writes one of the most beautiful passages in his letters. It is the so-called Hymn to Christ, which begins with a praise of the Father. The glorification of the Father, which was dear to the heart of the Son, logically takes center stage in this praise. How could we understand God’s glorious deeds if we did not recognize Jesus as the Father’s envoy? The church in Colossae must be mindful of the glory of the Son of God, so that their faith may be firmly rooted and any teaching that seeks to overshadow the glory of Jesus may be rejected.
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Col 1:12)
This is how the praise of God begins in the so-called Christ Hymn in the Letter to the Colossians. It serves as a reminder that all the graces we are privileged to receive through the Son of God come from our Heavenly Father. Therefore, it is right that we not overlook this, but, just as the prayers in the Holy Mass are always addressed to our divine Father, turn back to God our Father in joy, praise, and thanksgiving for everything.
Since the proclamation of the Gospel is very close to my heart—and thus the testimony of all Holy Scripture—I turn to the Letter to the Colossians, written by St. Paul. For those who prefer the current Scripture readings, we refer to texts I have discussed in recent years at the end.
In my view, these interpretations of Scripture are particularly important at this time, as a modernist approach to the Holy Scriptures is becoming increasingly prevalent—one that often offers no real nourishment for the soul. Yet the Word of God is so rich and so important that we should hear it again and again, pondering it in our hearts as the Blessed Virgin Mary did, so that it may bear abundant fruit.
“Surrender yourself completely to me, your loving God and Father. Then everything will work out.” (Inner Word)
What does our Heavenly Father mean by these words?
Lk 14:1,7-11
Now it happened that on a Sabbath day Jesus had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.’ Read More
