the "in"-thing
"All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Him." —Galatians 3:27
By our Baptisms, we are not only with, through, and for Christ; we are in Christ. Only by being in Christ can we be affected by Him in the most profound ways. For example, a baby inside the womb is affected by the health, rest, and nutrition of the mother differently than the born children of that mother are affected by these factors. When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death (Rm 6:3). "Through baptism into His death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life" (Rm 6:4). We don't get the benefits of Jesus' saving death merely by being near the cross but in the Crucified One. "It is in Christ and through His blood that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven" (Eph 1:7). "In Him we were chosen" (Eph 1:11, 13, 4).
All the works of God the Father are through, with, and in Jesus. The existence of all people depends on the Father working through Jesus (Jn 1:3). Moreover, all people can be with Jesus because He is all-present. However, only the baptized are in Jesus and in His saving death. Live in Jesus.
Prayer: Father, pour out on me a spirit of grace and petition (Zec 12:10) to prepare me to renew my baptismal promises.
Promise: "Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in My steps. Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." —Lk 9:23-24
Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus, the Light of the world. You have created a place in heaven for us (Eph 2:6). Alleluia!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 2, 1997