Jesus is the Icon of the invisible God.

"He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1: 15).

Friday of the 22nd week in Ordinary Time is First Friday in September. We honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The first Reading from Colossians 1 is a beautiful celebration in words of the Preeminence of Jesus Christ both in His Sacred Person and His work.

Jesus is the image [icon] of our God who is invisible. He is the pleroma (fullness) of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Consider the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit for a moment: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. Let us complete the picture of Deity by bringing in the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity. Both the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit form the complete picture of Jesus Christ.

Example:
"O Lord, you are good and forgiving, [Just as Jesus is good and forgiving] full of mercy to all who call to you." [Just as Jesus is full of mercy to all who call to Him.] (Psalm 85: 5).

John wrote that in the fullness of time, we shall all be like Jesus. We shall be God as St Basil the Great wrote. "Through the Spirit we acquire a likeness to God; indeed, we attain what is beyond our most sublime aspirations – we become God." At the moment, we are being christified degree by degree through the molding of our character by the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and sisters, do you know of any obstacles to this process of christification in your life today? Reject it. It is not worth it.

Daily Bible Verse @
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