in him ...

Today I am enjoying an excercise of contemplative prayer. Reading Ephesians 1:3-12, the Father's plan of salvation, I found myself focusing on the words IN HIM which are repeated several times through the passage:

     IN - not out, beside, with - but IN - inside, immersed in, surrounded by, all-encompassing

     HIM - no-one else but Jesus Christ, as God, our Saviour

I found myself remembering from long ago a science fiction story in which the protagonist finds himself in an alien world where the atmosphere is so dense that one can swim through it as if through water, and so "fly" in a way above the buildings and streets, like a bird but much more slowly.

Thinking of this, I see myself sinking into Christ as into the sea, with tiny bubbles rising around me; and I begin to move my arms a bit, then find it's like that story: I can remain suspended, surrounded, deep within this atmosphere that is HIM.

He is in me, and I am IN HIM, one with Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:3-12. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

may day - with st. joseph the worker

It's May Day today - the first day of May, traditionally the day to celebrate workers and work. I think of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, who is honoured today in the Calendar of the Saints. As I consider his life and ask God to show and teach me, I ponder on the thought that to Joseph, it must all have been a Big Mystery - but nevertheless, from the first appearance of the angel, he assented to God's direction.
As I think of Jesus growing up under Joseph's fatherly direction, Joseph must have taught Jesus his own traits, just as we all pass along our traits and habits, both good and bad, to our children. And so I believe we can say with confidence that, like Jesus, Joseph must have been a thoughtful, careful, devout man of faith; hard working, quiet, considering his actions, thinking before speaking - yet speaking out boldly when necessary. He definitely was deeply faithful: he must have KNOWN God well over his lifetime in order to have received the message from the angel and assented in this way. Later, he heard from God in a dream - and understood that it was God. He knew God's voice.
Overall, I come away with the knowledge that Joseph DID HIS PART even when he did not understand God's plan. I must do the same!

Anton Raphael Mengs (1728–1779), “The Dream of St. Joseph"