I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

—Colossians 1:25-2:7 (TNIV)

If you ever wondered what it means to be “in Christ,” just read this passage from Paul. Marvel at how he lives his life entirely for Christ. Paul does not kid himself and think that by his own merits he accomplishes all that he does. Instead he gives credit where it is due. He has “Christ in him, the hope of glory.”

Having Christ in him gives Paul hope for a future, one that will not be marred by suffering or incompleteness. This hope, along with Christ’s presence in him, allows Paul to transcend all that besets him in this life. It gives his current work meaning and purpose. It strengthens him and keeps him going. It allows Paul to use his God-given gifts to their fullest.

Here we see a magnificent union of God and man, the kind of relationship with God we were created to have, in which God lives in humans and allows us to fulfill our God-given call. There is power to love and serve and in so loving and serving there is a joy that nothing in this life can take away. Paul knew the secret and reminds us that we too can have the Power of Christ living in us. Do you have Christ in you, the hope of glory?

I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,” and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the eucharist flowed from [Christ’s] side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. As God took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death. Do you understand , then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat?

—John Chrysostom, Catechesis 3

What does the Holy Spirit bestow on us? Listen to the apostle: “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” He continues, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” Why in earthen vessels? “That the dominant power of loving may be seen as God’s.” Thus, in order for you to love God, let God dwell in you; let him prompt you to love him, kindle you, enlighten you, rouse you.

—Augustine, Sermon 128.4

O God, who opens the entrance of the kingdom of heaven to those who are born again of water and the Holy Spirit, increase evermore on your servants the gifts of your grace, that they who have been cleansed from all sins may not be defrauded of any promises; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

—The Gelasian Sacramentary

On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city [Rome] or in the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us, urging everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray. On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks as well as possible, and the people give their assent by saying: “Amen.” The eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates [takes communion], and the deacons take it to those who are absent. The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount. The collection is placed in the custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who for any reason are in distress. We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world , and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

—Justin Martyr (ca. mid-second century), First Apology

Jesus became a sacrament for me, the cause of my salvation, he brought my time in hell to an end, and put a stop to my inner disintegration. He washed me patiently in the waters of baptism, he filled me with the exhilarating joy of the Holy Spirit in confirmation, he nourished me with the bread of his word. Above all, he forgave me, he forgot everything, he did not even wish me to remember my past myself.

—Carlo Carretto, In Search of the Beyond

Yesterday we saw in Carretto’s writing, why it is important for us to come to Christ’s Table on a regular basis. Today, Carretto continues with this theme, reminding us that it is Christ alone who can heal and restore us. Notice the emphasis on sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. Note too the acknowledgment of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. This is how we begin to be healed. This is what it means to partake in the means of grace through which Christ heals us. It is certainly not the only way Jesus can heal us, but these means of grace are common to all believers and have a proven track record.