Today's Lectionary TextColossians 1:25-27I became its (the church’s) 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  Today's Devotional
I remember as a teenager being captured by a phrase on a wall hanging in our pastor’s study: “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Throughout my years I’ve continued to be fascinated with the meaning of that phrase.
The phrase “in Christ” (en Christo) occurs 164 times in Paul’s writings. It obviously was important to Paul, and as he states it is a great mystery that God has revealed to us. So what does it mean for you, for me, for us to hear that “Christ is in us”? I wonder if much of our Christology has been anemic in absorbing the meaning of this phrase to our faith and life experience. For some it may be just a distant theory, not a practical, wonderful life experience. And it indeed is and will always be a mystery. The longer I live the more I am becoming a mystic of sorts. Seeking to embrace the mystery of life, making room for the mystery of faith, and paying attention to mystical experiences of Christ’ presence which I cannot always put in words. What greater comfort, challenge and power can we have than to recognize and experience “Christ in me.” Maybe one way to speak of this mystery is that “God keeps showing up as my life.” Think about that! Recently I was reading a National Geographic magazine article on viruses. It went in to great detail explaining the coronavirus. But the article also mentioned there are many viruses in our body all the time, many of them viruses that maintain our health. Paul writes that “Christ in you” is “the hope of glory.” So, what would it be like in these days of living with the COVID-19 virus to imagine that the power of Christ in us is like a healthy virus in us – a virus of hope. And that is indeed something to spread. --Rev. Rick Saylor
Retired clergy, Kansas City, Missouri
Prayer for ReflectionO Living Christ, it’s hard to fully imagine that your presence is in me! It is so awesome to ponder that reality. So give me the courage to make the phrase “Christ in you” more than a belief, but a living experience. Show yourself to me this day, in some way, in my life. And so it is. For IN Christ Jesus we pray.
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