Breaking the Word

23^rd Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 11^th September 2023 – Col 1,24-2,3; Lk 6,6-11

Mystery Unfolded

In the first reading, Paul expresses his feelings to the Colossians of how much he has done and is willing to continue to do in the future for their sake and for others so that they would hear the Gospel message that God truly loves each individual and wants to bring them into the glory of heaven. Through the ministry, work, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Gentiles now have the opportunity to share in the mystery of God and the divine life. Paul’s role is to unfold that ‘mystery’ which has been hidden from ages past but is now revealed to the Christians. By ‘mystery’ he means not so much something that is difficult to understand, but rather something hidden which is only now being revealed. The Christian mystery is not a secret knowledge for a few. It is a revelation of divine truths about God or God’s plans – once hidden but now openly proclaimed to the whole world. The mystery is that the extraordinary love of God has been made known to us through Jesus Christ and that Christ now indwells in believing Gentiles. The Christians on the contrary are called to be saved through union with Christ, and so to reach their destiny of eternal glory.

22^nd Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 09^th September 2023 – Col 1,21-23; Lk 6,1-5

Inclusive Reconciliation

In the first reading, St.Paul continues to reflect on the role of Jesus in the divine plan of salvation. Having said that Christ has reconciled the whole world to himself and brought peace by his death on the cross (1,15-20), Paul reminds the Colossians that they themselves have experienced the reconciling effect of Christ’s death. He appeals to them to adhere firmly to Jesus as their only mediator with God. The “fleshy body” of his Son, is the locus where reconciliation takes place. The Colossians have been gifted by God and elevated from their sinful state in which they did not experience divine love in its fullness. It is through the death of Jesus that they have been made “holy and immaculate and irreproachable” and able to enter into the presence of God. Only thing that is expected of the Colossians is that they remain true to the foundation of their faith and keep close to the hope engendered by the Gospel message. In this reconciliation, Paul also mentions that he is a minister of the Gospel because he has also been chosen to be part of the salvific plan of God. Jesus continues this work of reconciliation between peoples everywhere.