St Gregory the Great | Friday 3 September 2021
Today is Friday the 3 September, the feast of St Gregory the Great, in the 22nd week of Ordinary time.
Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Dulce Jesus mio. “My sweet Jesus, look with mercy on my lost soul.” As you sit here, or stand here now, trying to pray, what kind of shape is your soul in? Content and at peace? Lost and wandering? On the edge? Bring all this to the Lord now…
Today’s reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself 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, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Jesus is God made visible. How we see him behave gives us a clear and direct picture of God. All the compassion and tenderness, the challenge and the invitation to companionship, the desire to heal and make whole: this is how God has been from the beginning. What do you see and understand of God as you imagine Jesus?
Jesus is at the heart of the church, at the heart of all creation. How have you experienced him in and through the church and the natural world? The fullness of God dwells in Jesus who reconciles the whole creation to God. Is there anything within your experience that you feel needs reconciling? Can you name this to yourself and to God?
This is beautiful poetry. As you listen to it again, notice what words strike home and stay in your heart and your deepest desires.
Does one of these descriptions of Jesus touch you particularly? What do you find yourself wanting to say to him at this time?
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.