Living in Christ

Do you know that in the New Testament the phrase “in Christ” is repeated 164 times? We are “in Christ.” What does that mean? By the indwelling Spirit we are united by a real enduring bond with Jesus, we are one with the Risen Lord, we live now in Christ. Our baptismal oneness with the Lord has glorious consequences. 

If we only understood the gift of God, our dignity as God’s sons and daughters, the sublime presence of the Spirit that is already ours!

For example, what of the truth that, because of our baptism, the Spirit of the Lord prays within us, indeed is prayer within us.

Though we might not know God’s will in a given situation – Christ’s Spirit within us surely does.    Though we might feel powerless in our prayers – Christ’s Spirit within us does not. Though we might feel lacking in trust in God’s love – Christ’s Spirit within us does not. Though we might feel exhausted and confused – Christ’s Spirit within us does not.

But this God-given reality that is ours is not just for communion in prayer but also for partnership in mission. The same Spirit of God that filled Jesus has been given to us, and has made us one with the Lord.

-    So those we serve, Christ serves.

-    Those we forgive, Christ forgives.

-    Those we comfort, Christ comforts.

-    Those we lift up in working for justice, Christ lifts up.

-    Those we pray for, Christ prays for.

The core of our Christian living is simple: Live the grace of your Baptism. Live under the guidance and influence of the Spirit. Live in the Spirit. 

Allow the Lord’s love have its way with you. And then let that love flow out to others.

Living Water

“If you but knew the gift that God is offering you,”  Jesus said to the woman at the well.

To us he can say: “If you but knew the gift that God has already given you.” Through faith and Baptism that gift of living water, the gift of the Holy Spirit has already been given to us lavishly.

All Christ has done  - he has done for us

All  Christ has gained – he shares with us.

All Christ’s Spirit - he has poured out on us.

Thomas Merton wrote:  “We already have everything. Everything has already been given to us in Christ. But we don’t realise it, we don’t experience it.”

It is so important to grasp this truth if we are to get to the heart of our faith. Our on-going life of faith, prayer and service in the Christian community, our on-going relationship with the Lord is

-   less about multiplying religious practices - more about accessing the divine gift already given,

-   less about struggling to achieve some spiritual benefit - more about receiving ever more deeply what is already ours,

-   less about needing to do great things for God – more about abiding in his presence so that our lives are fragrant with his goodness and bear the fruit of love.

During these last weeks of Eastertide, as we prepare to celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the Christian people seek renewal in the Spirit. We pray once again: "Come, Holy Spirit"

But is not really about receiving more of anything. Rather it is being made more open to experience and live from the Gift already within.