Good morning…
“Christ is the one whose center is everywhere,” says St. Bonaventure, “and whose circumference is nowhere.” Intriguing dichotomy, right? Center – everywhere. Circumference – nowhere. As I ponder the possibilities, into the subject line of Biblegateway.com I type this phrase: “center Christ.” Three Scripture verses pop up and beg for our attention.
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything (Ephesians 1:20-21, MSG).
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life (Philippians 4:6-7, MSG).
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! (Jude 1:20-21, MSG).
Christ’s center is everywhere. Christ’s circumference is nowhere. As we focus our attention on God’s unending life, our real life, we sense Christ’s powerful presence expanding within, through, and among us. Our most pressing anxieties are shaped by grateful praise into prayers. We witness God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, coming to us, settling us down. As we stay right in the center of God’s endless love, Christ’s constant companionship displaces the worry in our heart and at our core we begin to trust: “Wonderful is happening.”
…Sue…
