Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102512.cfm

A drought stricken marsh in early September

…that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

From the many dreary places where he found himself – prisons, jails, stocks, shipwrecks, cold, wet, lonely and so forth -- Saint Paul had a vision of such splendor he could barely contain his happiness. He shared it with his friends through his letters and conversations and especially in the “Breaking of Bread.”

We can call it a vision but it was not an apparition. It was more an intuition of Something Beautiful and Delightful and So Close he could almost touch it. He used words like breadth and length and height and depth, and expressions like "love surpassing knowledge" and "fullness of God" to describe it. Today we might speak of unconditional love and bliss. Paul's sensitive soul, disciplined by harsh circumstances but never jaded, was animated and enthused by that ever present reality. He lived continually within it.

We, his disciples, might not share the same experience. We have not been blessed in that way. But we hear his blessing for us and we tell the story. We are encouraged by it because we believe in him. Saints do that for us; they inspire us with conviction, zeal and fearlessness. Though they see clearly and we can only see them, we follow them; relying on their prayers, teaching and example for direction and inspiration.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,

by the power at work within us,

to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus

to all generations, forever and ever. Amen