Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation

 

Mass readings for today's reflection can be found at Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church | USCCB

In our first reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, we hear Paul make it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man. Paul tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and that in Him were created all things in heaven and earth. Paul goes on to teach that all things are created through Jesus and for Jesus. Jesus is the source of all creation. In Jesus all fullness was pleased to dwell.

As Catholic Christians we know and believe in the divinity of Jesus and in the realty of the Trinity: that there are three persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Paul is confirming this realty when Paul tells us that “all things were created through him and for him.”

Paul is also reminding us in today’s reading that Christ is the “head of the Body, the Church.” As Christians we are called to live our lives in imitation of Christ. All that we are and all we do; we are to live our lives as followers of Christ Jesus. We are to live our lives with the knowledge and attitude of having Christ as preeminent in everything we do. This means that we are to have Him as the center of who are and to also love others as Jesus expects us to love them. By living out our lives in this way, others will see and take notice that we are not only talking about the love of Christ in our lives, but we are also actually living as Christ would want us to live. In this way, we can bring others to Christ by the example of who we are.

Mother St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.” So, as followers of Christ, let us put the love of Christ into action by how we not only love God with our whole heart, mind and body, but also how we love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us put this love of God into action in our family, our friends, and with all those we meet each day.