“Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5a)
Read 2 Corinthians 13:1–14.
For the past two days, you’ve been invited to reflect on unity: We are united with God and each other. Today’s reading combines these ideas in a way that can lead to challenging questions: Do I realize that Jesus Christ is in me? Do I really know who Jesus is? Am I living in the faith? Has my life been transformed?
I sometimes think of transformation as something dramatic — a conversion on the road to Damascus or a saint who has lived in the slums with the poor her entire life. My next thought is usually something like, “Well, that’s not my life” or “There’s no way I can do that.”
I wonder if transformation is something internal that can manifest in different ways externally. I wonder if transformation is about deeply knowing the presence of Jesus Christ in me and allowing that to shape how I see myself. I wonder if transformation is about becoming more aware of the presence of God in others and allowing that to shape how I see others and the world. Once I see myself, others and the world differently, then this can impact the way I speak and act. It can change the way I interact with other people and the world.
How can the presence of Jesus in us help us to see differently? Through the cross, we can come to know and learn more about who Jesus is. This cruciform lens can transform our seeing and our being. It challenges what the world values and instead points us to humility, generosity and service.
What helps you to deeply know Christ’s presence in you?
How might knowing Christ’s presence in you make a difference in your life today?
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me.
(St Patrick’s Prayer)
Prayer
God, awaken my whole being to Your presence in me. Challenge my way of living so my faith may be lived out in humility, generosity and service. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
