A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians 1:15-20
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
REFLECTION: “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.”
I found this particular verse striking because it harks back to Genesis; when human beings are revealed to be created in the image of God. Therefore, to know ourselves is to come close to knowing God.
Perhaps God had always planned to make Himself visible to us, perhaps He wouldn’t have had to make Himself visible in the physical way if our spiritual minds were not so darken by the consequence of Original Sin. This is still a mystery but what is certain is that His Incarnation should change the way we understand the human person, in particular, the human body.
Jesus Christ elevated our dignity beyond our understanding in taking human nature and reveals to us more of ourselves.
A friend once showed me the local gymnasium after learning I have never been in one. Once we were there, I was most struck by the endless mirrors that lined the walls. It was very confronting and annoying to constantly be followed by your own reflection. I concluded it was the most vain place ever, until it was explained to me that the mirrors are there to help those working out see themselves better, to assess their techniques in training, improve and avoid injuries.
If we wish to understand who we are, we should look, consider and contemplate the person of Jesus Christ. For in Him, we find the perfect mirror with which to see ourselves. To truly see ourselves is to see Jesus Christ, and to see Jesus Christ is to see ourselves.
He will show us our faults without accusing us, He will correct us with utmost gentleness and without compromising His humility. It is indeed a joy to be chastised by the Lord!
St Clare encourages us in these words:
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance! And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.
God bless.
