Being a member of a church by partaking in the sacrament of baptism is easy, but the most difficult thing is understanding the significance of it, and experiencing it in one’s own personal life, as Paul declares his perfect identity as a perfect union with Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). How can a person claim anything of himself that was crucified along with Christ, claim it alive and practice his personal self-life? Impossible and that is why accepting the life of the Risen Christ with the new nature is the real battle of the Christian life, that Paul endured and proclaimed: “and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). May we meditate on this  mystery of perfect identity and experience the indwelling of Christ in us, by His great mercy and grace.

Abba, thank you for setting before us a model of the Christian life. Let Your Spirit give us the understanding and courage to imitate St. Paul, in the Most Wonderful Name of Jesus, Amen.