Reading: Colossians 1:15-28
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. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Reflection Before you read this meditation (or as soon as you’re done reading it), pop over to YouTube and listen to Andrew Peterson’s song All Things Together. Peterson presents this reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians in such a lovely and encouraging way. To me, Paul’s words, “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together,” are some of the most beautiful in all of scripture. They comfort me greatly, especially in troubled times. Recent current events like the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and mass shootings leave me feeling like the world is unsafe, our futures uncertain, and the anxiety unbearable. There are days, as I scroll through my newsfeed, where hope seems a fading light and despair creeps in. And then I read this truth from Paul: Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. Before the world was created, there was Jesus. Before sin reared its ugly head, there was Jesus. Before all the heartache and brokenness, there was Jesus. And after all these things pass away, there will still be Jesus. And here, between the beginning and the end, there is Jesus. And in Jesus all things hold together. Even in these moments when it seems like everything is falling apart, we have faith that, in Jesus, all things still hold together. --Jim Vitale Prayer Jesus our savior, we give you thanks that in you all things hold together. In the moments of chaos and darkness hold us in your love and remind us that in you there is a happy ending. Amen.
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