Daily Retreat 10/16/08

2008 Oct 16 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ Hedwig, r/ Margaret Mary Alacoque, v
Eph 1: 1-10/ Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Lk 11: 47-54

From today’s readings:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him....  The Lord has made known His salvation....  from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah....”

Polished Paul

Each of Paul’s epistles sparkle with a unique brilliance - the Letter to the Ephesians is particularly rich in doctrinal contemplation, and you’ll certainly find it more upbeat than the tough corrective Letter to the Galatians which we just finished!

You simply cannot read this letter quickly - like a well-distilled liqueur, the words must be savored, and imbibed slowly and thoughtfully.  Consider just these opening verses, in which Paul recalls that
    - God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens”
    - God chose us for holiness “before the foundation of the world”
    - God adopted us as His beloved children through the incarnation of His Son
    - the Blood of Christ wrought our redemption, the forgiveness of sins
    - God has enlightened us with Divine Revelation
and each of these is but a poor simplified summary of Paul’s more concentrated phrases!

So, as you read, be content for the moment to merely focus on any one of Paul’s points that inspires you most intensely, and ask God to help you to realize the richness of the blessings we have in Christ Jesus!