Reading: Colossians 1:11-20
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 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.
Reflection
Today’s reading starts out with quite the pep talk about strength, power, endurance, patience, and joy. Yes! That’s great to hear; great to cheer. But we all know there are times when we feel weak, impatient, and not cheerful. What to do? That’s where we dig deeper and find Christ is the glue that holds all things together.
My first memory of glue was Elmer’s Glue. At school we had paste. At home we had Elmer’s Glue which was a bit confusing because my dad’s name was Elmer. It was not a what kind (Elmer’s Glue) but a whose (Elmer’s glue). It was Dad’s glue. Imagine my confusion when at a friends’ house they had it, too. Then I learned how to read and realized Elmer’s was the brand name and Elmer’s Glue was everywhere.
Christ is everywhere, too. Christ existed before creation and Christ’s resurrection opens up the way to eternal life for us. While these ten verses in Colossians can seem a bit wordy, the point is God brought about reconciliation and peace through Christ. Therefore, we can have strength, power, endurance, patience, and joy. Through Christ. God’s glue.
–Ruth Gates
Prayer
Dear God, sometimes we feel we are coming apart at the seams. Weak, impatient, and down. May we remember Christ is in everything and through Christ we can have strength, power, endurance, patience and joy. Hold us together in your love.
Amen.