Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Unites Me to His Body
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
How Do I Grow in Ability to Share and Receive
If you keep your body free from disease and sensual pleasure it will help you to serve what is more noble. . St. Maximus the Confessor
Eyes of the Heart
Eph 1:15-23
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to have the “eyes of our hearts enlightened,” to truly know God, to understand the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, and the immeasurable power at work within us. The grace to live in the reality of Christ’s headship over all things and our connection to Him as members of His body, the Church.
Reflection
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians resonates deeply with our own longing for connection with the divine. He speaks of faith, love, and thanksgiving, the very foundations of a life lived in communion with God. He yearns for them to receive the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation,” a gift from the Father, to truly know Christ. Not just know about Him, but to experience Him, to have the eyes of their hearts enlightened. Imagine that: the very center of your being, illuminated by divine light. What would you see? Paul tells us: the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, the immeasurable power at work within us. This power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is available to us, now. It’s a power that transcends all earthly authority, placing Christ at the right hand of the Father, head over all things for the Church. And the Church? It’s His body, the very fullness of Him who fills all things. We are part of that body, connected to Christ, connected to each other, indwelt by the Trinity. Let us open our hearts to this profound truth, allowing the Spirit to reveal the depth of God’s love and the immensity of His power at work within us.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This passage leads to greater intimacy with Jesus by emphasizing his role as head over all things and the source of power for believers. It highlights the resurrection as the ultimate demonstration of God’s power and Christ’s victory over death. By recognizing Jesus’ exalted position and the power he shares with us, we are drawn closer to him, recognizing our dependence on him and our connection to him as members of his body, the Church. The image of the Church as Christ’s body fosters a sense of belonging and unity with him, deepening our intimacy and understanding of our role in his divine plan.
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