Daily Retreat 10/21/08
2008 Oct 21 Tue: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 2: 12-22/ Ps 84(85): 9ab-10. 11-12. 13-14/ Lk 12: 35-38
From today’s readings: “ Now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ.... The Lord speaks of peace to His people.... Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival....”
Without Christ
Every once in awhile, you probably have the frustration of ISP technical difficulties that leave you momentarily without Internet access. We’re also all familiar with occasional power outages that leave us without electricity for a spell. As annoying as such times are, they do illustrate for us the degree to which we take such modern conveniences for granted, so it’s always such a relief when our service is restored!
Although we certainly take Him for granted, Christ never deprives us of His presence, even though, tragically, some do reject His presence by committing a mortal sin. No one, of course, wishes that another ever commit sin and spurn Christ’s presence, but St. Paul does invite the Ephesians to recall the time when they were without Christ and without the hope He brings. Paul merely is helping the Ephesians appreciate the blessings they have in Christ, so they won’t callously take them for granted.
Many of us were baptized as infants and raised in strong Christians families, so it can be difficult even to imagine life without Christ - almost like attempting to imagine being born blind! But even so, you and I can certainly commit ourselves to thanking God for the infinite blessings of our Savior, even as we recall that we can only take Him for granted because God has so graciously granted Him to us!
Eph 2: 12-22/ Ps 84(85): 9ab-10. 11-12. 13-14/ Lk 12: 35-38
From today’s readings: “ Now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ.... The Lord speaks of peace to His people.... Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival....”
Without Christ
Every once in awhile, you probably have the frustration of ISP technical difficulties that leave you momentarily without Internet access. We’re also all familiar with occasional power outages that leave us without electricity for a spell. As annoying as such times are, they do illustrate for us the degree to which we take such modern conveniences for granted, so it’s always such a relief when our service is restored!
Although we certainly take Him for granted, Christ never deprives us of His presence, even though, tragically, some do reject His presence by committing a mortal sin. No one, of course, wishes that another ever commit sin and spurn Christ’s presence, but St. Paul does invite the Ephesians to recall the time when they were without Christ and without the hope He brings. Paul merely is helping the Ephesians appreciate the blessings they have in Christ, so they won’t callously take them for granted.
Many of us were baptized as infants and raised in strong Christians families, so it can be difficult even to imagine life without Christ - almost like attempting to imagine being born blind! But even so, you and I can certainly commit ourselves to thanking God for the infinite blessings of our Savior, even as we recall that we can only take Him for granted because God has so graciously granted Him to us!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/18/2008
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