Rooted: The Inner Foundation of Mission
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Grace Prayed For
The central grace prompted by this passage is the grace of interior receptivity. Pray for the strength to allow Christ to truly make His home in your heart, so that you may be rooted and grounded in His love, not just knowing about it, but truly experiencing its immeasurable reality.
Reflection
Paul does not begin his prayer standing, speaking, or planning. He begins by kneeling. This posture of humility is the very starting point of intimacy. It’s an admission that we cannot begin this journey on our own terms. We kneel before the Father, the source of our identity, and we open ourselves to receive a gift: to be “strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self.”
So often, we seek strength for our external mission in the world, but Paul reminds us that the true foundation is built within. The mission to share and receive love doesn’t start with a strategy; it starts with the quiet, internal transformation of allowing Christ to truly dwell in our hearts. This isn’t about Christ visiting occasionally; it’s about Him taking up permanent residence, rearranging the furniture of our hearts, and making His home there.
When He dwells within us, we become “rooted and grounded in love.” Think of a great oak tree. Its strength isn’t in its visible branches, but in the vast, unseen network of its roots. Those roots anchor it, protect it from storms, and draw up the life-giving water it needs to flourish. For us, that life-giving water is the love of Christ. When we are rooted in this love, we finally gain the strength to comprehend its sheer scale—its breadth, length, height, and depth.
This love is not an academic concept to be studied; it “surpasses knowledge.” It’s an ocean to be experienced. We are invited to plunge into its depths, to realize it is wider than our greatest sin, longer than our deepest sorrow, higher than our greatest joy, and deeper than our darkest fear.
Only when we are immersed in this immeasurable love can we be “filled with all the fullness of God.” We cannot give what we do not possess. An empty cup cannot quench another’s thirst. The call to evangelize, to share and receive in every encounter, is a call to be a people whose cups are overflowing with the love we have first received from God. Then, and only then, does the mission flow effortlessly from us. It is no longer our work, but the “power at work within us” accomplishing “far more than all we ask or imagine.”
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in Daily Life
Fulfilling Your Baptismal Mission
Evangelization in your daily life flows from the authenticity of how Jesus has impacted you. It’s less about arguing doctrine and more about sharing the fruits of your intimacy with Him.
Evangelize by Service: When you know you are infinitely loved, you are freed to love others without needing anything in return. Helping a neighbor with their groceries, offering a word of encouragement to a coworker, or forgiving someone who has wronged you are all ways of making the “breadth and length” of Christ’s love visible in the world. You are partnering with Jesus to restore a small piece of creation through a simple act of love.
Evangelize by Presence: When you are rooted in a love that “surpasses knowledge,” you carry a sense of peace that others notice. In a tense meeting, a chaotic family gathering, or a stressful checkout line, your calm, non-anxious presence can be a powerful witness to the God who grounds you.
Evangelize by Listening: Intimacy with God teaches you how to listen. Offer the gift of your full, undivided attention to someone. In listening to their story, you honor the image of God in them and create a sacred space where they feel seen and loved—perhaps for the first time that day.
Evangelize by Story: Be ready to share a small, honest story of how God’s love has made a difference in your life. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic conversion. It can be as simple as, “I was feeling so overwhelmed this week, but I spent some time in prayer, and it really helped me find my footing.” This makes God’s love tangible and relatable.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post