For the last several weeks, I have had several occurances during everyday life of feeling something I have found hard to describe . . . . but in pondering it tonight, I realized that a passage in the bible had taken new meaning . .
I mentioned this before; in our church history class I felt suddenly as though a deep and strong foundation was beneath all of us there, and binding us together on solid ground that was unshakeable, unmovable - that we were being held together as the body of Christ tightly, strongly, deeply - as if the frame that surrounded us went way deep into the earth farther down than anyone could imagine . . such great peace emcompasses this reality . . It surprised me . . and I have felt it several times since . . .a solidity not just in myself, but in myself WITHIN THE BODY of Christ, like the stones of a building being so perfectly joined and fitted together, supported by the foundation and frame, that they are solidly put into palce . . there is no movement . . I experience that I am being held firmly in place within, and by, the Church . .
A fragment of a verse came to mind tonight - I looked it up :
Suddenly I began to understand exactly what this verse was saying .. I have been experiencing it . . . .
When I was a Protestant, my experience had been that of being joined together with other Christians . . but loosely . . like being knitted together, but in a very loose knit - like the person doing the knitting is using big knitting needles . .
But this experience of being loosely knitted together is not what this verse is describing . . or it is a poor immitation of it . .
It is describing being so closely knit together, so closely compacted together that it is not like a loosely knit garment, but a solid, strongly built bulding held together as closely and as tightly as possible by a solid, deep and strong foundation with a well fitted frame - though this verse uses the analogy of the body . .
The body, is not one that is loose and flaccid, but one that is well muscled, well developed, strong, the joints not popping in and out of joint . .but everything in its place and held in place firmly, solidly . .
Perhaps what I am saying is like, 'yeah, of course' to many of you here . . but as I grow deeper into Christ through Catholicism, I am experiencing this more strongly each day . . somtimes it seems to begin to overwhelm me and I feel something growing inside of me . . something solid, full of peace . .
And it puts me at rest . .
I probably have not expressed myself well . . but I am in awe of this!
Peace in Him!
I mentioned this before; in our church history class I felt suddenly as though a deep and strong foundation was beneath all of us there, and binding us together on solid ground that was unshakeable, unmovable - that we were being held together as the body of Christ tightly, strongly, deeply - as if the frame that surrounded us went way deep into the earth farther down than anyone could imagine . . such great peace emcompasses this reality . . It surprised me . . and I have felt it several times since . . .a solidity not just in myself, but in myself WITHIN THE BODY of Christ, like the stones of a building being so perfectly joined and fitted together, supported by the foundation and frame, that they are solidly put into palce . . there is no movement . . I experience that I am being held firmly in place within, and by, the Church . .
A fragment of a verse came to mind tonight - I looked it up :
Eph 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
And suddenly it took on a whole new, deeper meaning . . fitly joined . . .compacted . . .
Suddenly I began to understand exactly what this verse was saying .. I have been experiencing it . . . .
When I was a Protestant, my experience had been that of being joined together with other Christians . . but loosely . . like being knitted together, but in a very loose knit - like the person doing the knitting is using big knitting needles . .
But this experience of being loosely knitted together is not what this verse is describing . . or it is a poor immitation of it . .
It is describing being so closely knit together, so closely compacted together that it is not like a loosely knit garment, but a solid, strongly built bulding held together as closely and as tightly as possible by a solid, deep and strong foundation with a well fitted frame - though this verse uses the analogy of the body . .
The body, is not one that is loose and flaccid, but one that is well muscled, well developed, strong, the joints not popping in and out of joint . .but everything in its place and held in place firmly, solidly . .
Perhaps what I am saying is like, 'yeah, of course' to many of you here . . but as I grow deeper into Christ through Catholicism, I am experiencing this more strongly each day . . somtimes it seems to begin to overwhelm me and I feel something growing inside of me . . something solid, full of peace . .
And it puts me at rest . .
I probably have not expressed myself well . . but I am in awe of this!
Peace in Him!
