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Thursday, October 13, 2016

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Ephesians 1:1-10
Psalm 98:1-6
Luke 11:47-54

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in him

"God chose us in Him." —Ephesians 1:4

We have been baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3). Therefore, we are baptized into His Body, the Church (1 Cor 12:13), which has been given "every spiritual blessing in the heavens" (Eph 1:3). In Jesus, we have been chosen by God "before the world began, to be holy and blameless in His sight, to be full of love; He likewise predestined us through Christ Jesus to be His adopted sons" and daughters (Eph 1:4-5). "It is in Christ and through His blood that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven" (Eph 1:7). "God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, the plan He was pleased to decree in Christ" (Eph 1:9).

In summary, in Christ we are gifted, chosen, holy, loved, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and enlightened. The meaning of life is to be in Christ (see Jn 6:56; 15:5). "It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in [Jesus] and, by means of Him, to reconcile everything in His Person" (Col 1:19-20).

We have been baptized into Christ. Live in Christ, and "remain in Him now, little ones" (1 Jn 2:28).

Prayer:  Father, may I celebrate with great joy my baptismal anniversary each year and each day.

Promise:  "Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds." —Ps 98:1

Praise:  Pat studied the writings of The Early Church Fathers and, because of what he learned, he made the decision to become a Catholic.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Jesus, the Redeemer, order, listen to or download our CD 50-3 or DVD 50 on our website or order our tape on audio AV 50-3 or video V 50.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 31, 2016

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