“You are fellow citizens with the holy ones.” Ephesians 2:19
My father used to say, “A strong foundation of love and faith are the only way to a healthy family, without it everything falls apart”. He was a man of his word. What my father and mother taught us, they certainly lived. It was their commitment to their calling as parents who loved their children greatly, as it is ours, as stewards of God. My father was a resourceful man and had been offered a building that was to be torn down, he offered a dollar to the owner and made plans to have the building transported to our property. As the foundation was being built for the new building, my father said to me, “This is the most important part of the house, just like family, this is what you have to invest the most time and money in”. In scripture God reminds us, for our lives to be fruitful, He must be our foundation through which our lives flow. Like the strong roots that give a tree life to grow tall and strong, we to are called to build a foundation of enduring love. In The Word Among Us, they shared the thoughts of St. Augustine, “Do you wish to be great?” he asks. “Then begin from the least. Do you desire to construct a tall and lofty building? Think first about the foundation of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper you must dig the foundation.” Will you allow God in the trenches of your soul?
Scripture reminds us that the foundation of our existence is built upon the greats before us. We have roots in our faith tradition of Christ Jesus, the saints and all the prophets before us. How amazing to think that we are part of something so great. When we reflect on the words of St. Augustine, the deeper you must dig, it can make us think of the incredible journey that a human heart and soul must go through, but made beautiful living the life of God. We can look deep within our own heart in the crevices of pain and trial with regret or with joy in our journey with the Lord. We can fill every particle of our being with His word and the life in which God wants us to live. Allow His love to strengthen you. Whether you are a beginner in your faith or farther along on your journey, God asks that you surrender and allow His love to permeate even deeper. When you allow God to fill every breath and action, you strengthen your inner spirit and be a light for those around you. Attending mass, prayer and sharing in the Eucharist allows you to build a life that allows the spirit dwell in you. Then your heart can soar to reach the glory of heaven. “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the house of God…with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-22.
May you share in the love that awaits you in Christ. May your eyes, ears, heart and mind share in God’s will. Be humble and receive strength from the Lord.
Peace,
Claudia
Our Nourished Soul