Devotional Thought of the Day:

⁸  Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” Luke 4:8 (NLT)

424         Your relatives, colleagues and friends are beginning to notice the change, and realise that it is not a temporary phase, but that you are no longer the same. Don’t worry, carry on! Vivit vero in me Christus—it is now Christ that lives in me —that’s what is happening.(1)

The picture accompanying is this blog is on of the high points of a trip I took a few years ago.  My wife and I were wandering around Rome, on a trip that was an incredible gift.  As we were, we came across this building, with lots of excavation around it. It was rough, worn, old, and we wondered what it was….

As we rounded the front, we realized it was the Pantheon, a place built and rebuilt for the Roman Cultic worship…. a place were ritual sacrifice was done, a place of martyrdom as well. The Roman Pantheon, perhaps the best kept of all of the ancient buildings of Rome…Re-built early in the 2nd century, it is amazing.

But for nearly 1500 years… it has been something more significant – it has been a church.  A place where God is glorified, a place where His peopel have been gathered, and blessed.  A place that has over time been redeemed, been blessed, and amazed people for its grandeur, for its arts and craftsmanship, for the history and skill it contains, skill that speaks of something greater… the work of God. The meeting of God and His people to celebrate a love that is beyond measure….for His people to return that love, as they lay their lives down as living sacrifices to Him, giving of themselves to love Him, including loving Him by loving those He’s brought into our lives. That place where other gods demanded their sacrifices, for a longer period of time celebrated that God sacriced Jesus… for us.

This love of His changes us, completes us as we walk with Him.  St Josemaria is correct – there is a change in us, even as there was in the use of the Pantheon, We cannot know God’s love and be the same.   The Westminster Catechism as it right as well – our purpose in life changes drastically, as we realize who God is, and how He relates to us.

Worship becomes more powerful, as we realize it isn’t a duty, something we must do, but as it becomes a reaction to God sharing everything with us, including His glory.  How can we read St. Paul’s words to the church in Colossae and not rejoice?

²⁷  For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸  So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹  That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:27-29 (NLT)

This is what life is about, this is the abundant life…

Lord have mercy, and help us to share Who makes us who we are…

(1)  Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 1898-1902). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.

(2)  Westminster Larger and Smaller Catechisms; Electronic Edition, Wordsearch