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"There is one God, the Father, from Whom all things come and for Whom we live." —1 Corinthians 8:6
After the consecration at Mass, at the finale of the eucharistic prayer and just before Holy Communion, we pray in reference to Jesus: "Through Him, with Him, and in Him..." When we pray these words at this most precious moment, are we giving lip service to God (see Mt 15:8), or are we saying that " 'life' means Christ" (Phil 1:21) and Jesus is Life? (Jn 14:6)
Is everything in our lives done "through Him"? Do we realize emphatically that without Jesus we can do nothing? (Jn 15:5) Are we little children who depend completely on the Lord (Mt 18:3), or are we trying to do our own thing?
Do we live conscious of being "with Him"? Do we practice the presence of God? Are we constantly aware of Jesus' promise that He would be with us always and forever? (Mt 28:20)
Are we aware that the Trinity lives "in" us and we "in" Him? "Test yourselves to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves. Perhaps you yourselves do not realize that Christ Jesus is in you" (2 Cor 13:5).
Jesus is the only "Through-Way." We don't need to be "with it" but "with Him." Who cares about the "in thing?" We live in God and He in us (1 Jn 4:16). Live and pray: "Through Him, with Him, and in Him..."
Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I have been baptized into You (Mt 28:19). May I live accordingly.
Promise: "To you who hear Me, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you and pray for those who maltreat you." —Lk 6:27-28
Praise: Jacob, a high school senior, goes to Confession weekly.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, February 17, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 25, 1998