Tuesday 23 July 2024

Today is Tuesday 23 July, the feast of Saint Bridget, in the 16th week of Ordinary Time. Eliza King sings, ‘Christ Abides’. In the crowded thoughts, You are an open space And I hear Your voice, calling me to come away Where the eagles fly, You're raising me high with You To heavenly places, heavenly places I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me I'll seek You, Lord, and here in Your shadow hide I won't dread the day, nor fear the terror of the night Though thousands fall, I've been seated all along In heavenly places, in heavenly places I'm with you in heavenly places, in heavenly places I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me He's closer than a friend He takes the weary by the hand And says, "Come abide with me" "Come abide with me For my yoke is easy and my burden light I will raise you up like an eagle into flight You will not grow weary nor will you be faint In your every weakness, I will be your strength" I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me He's closer than a friend He takes the weary by the hand And says, "Come abide with me" Heavenly places, heavenly places Heavenly places, heavenly places Heavenly places, heavenly places I'm with you in heavenly places, heavenly places Today’s reading is from St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Galatians 2:19-20 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This short passage from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians may have just two verses but contains Paul's profound statement about dying to the law and living to God. Spend some time reflecting on what it might mean to be "crucified with Christ." Consider how this union with Christ transforms your identity, making it "no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." As you hear the passage again, feel encouraged to embrace this spiritual truth more fully in your daily life. "it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." With this desire in your heart, what might you ask of the Lord today? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.