Rooted in Christ, Reaching Out in Power

Col 2:6-15, Psalm: 144, Lk 6:12-19

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In an age of endless distractions and countless voices competing for our allegiance, the Word of God today issues a clarion call to remember our foundation and to reclaim our mission. It invites us to be a people who are profoundly rooted in order to be powerfully effective.

Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Colossians, gives us the fundamental principle of the Christian life: “So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him.” How did we receive Him? Through faith and the waters of Baptism. Therefore, we are to continue our journey with Him. Paul uses the powerful image of being “rooted” in Christ. A tree’s roots are its hidden source of life, stability, and nourishment. Without deep roots, a tree cannot withstand storms or bear fruit. So it is with us. Our strength, our identity, and our spiritual vitality do not come from ourselves, but from our connection to Christ.

Paul explains what this rootedness means. It means we are not to be taken captive by empty, seductive philosophies or “human tradition,” but to adhere to the truth of Christ, in whom “dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily.” We lack nothing! In Him, we have been brought to fullness. Furthermore, through our Baptism, we have undergone a “spiritual circumcision,” not made by human hands, where our old, sinful self was stripped away. We have been buried with Christ and raised with Him through faith. This is the source of our immense comfort: our past sins and failures have been nailed to the cross and canceled. The powers that once held us captive have been disarmed by Christ’s triumphant sacrifice. We are free.

This inward reality of being rooted and set free must manifest itself in outward mission. This is the pattern we see in the Gospel of Luke. Before any great action, Jesus withdraws to the mountain to pray. He spends the night in communion with the Father. This is the source of His power and wisdom. From this deep rootedness in prayer, He then acts: He chooses the Twelve Apostles, inaugurating the New Israel. Then, coming down to a level place, He is met by a vast multitude of people from all over, desperate for healing and freedom. And the power that flows from Him is so immense that “everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”

Here is the beautiful, dynamic rhythm of the Christian life: Depth leads to reach. Communion with God in prayer fuels compassion for His people. The power that heals the world flows from a heart rooted in the Father.

This is our model. We cannot give what we do not have. If our lives are not deeply rooted in Christ through prayer, the Sacraments, and His Word, we will have no spiritual power to offer a hurting world. We will risk being swayed by every passing trend and have nothing substantial to give to those who are suffering.

As Pope St. John Paul II tirelessly taught, “The contemplation of Christ… commits us to an arduous struggle against everything that oppresses man.” And St. Augustine reminds us, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Our rest, our rooting, is in Christ, so that we may then be sent out to bring His rest to others.

The application for us is clear:

1. Cultivate Your Roots: Prioritize daily prayer. It is the non-negotiable source of your strength. Receive the Eucharist frequently, for it is the ultimate nourishment for the journey.
2. Reclaim Your Freedom: When guilt or past sins haunt you, remember they are nailed to the cross. You are a new creation in Christ. Live in that freedom.
3. Let Power Flow Out: Be not afraid to step into the “crowded places” of modern life—your family, workplace, community—and be a conduit of Christ’s healing touch through a word of encouragement, an act of mercy, or a patient listening ear.

My friends, you are rooted in the fullness of Christ. From that place of strength, let His power flow through you to heal the world. Amen.