It is Just So Enriching…
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind.” – I Corinthians 1:4-5
This passage is part of the opening of Paul’s letter to the people in Corinth that we will read this coming Sunday. Paul opens with thanksgiving that the people of Corinth have been made new through the grace of God and enriched in every way. This resonates in me in unexpected ways because I would never think to describe myself as “enriched.” I might normally use words like comforted, supported, assured, and encouraged to describe what it feels like when I experience my faith growing through God’s love and grace. Enriched, on the other hand makes me think of extra “enrichment” classes at school, or the way that sugary cereals are enriched with nutrients to make them less unhealthy.
That said, when I think about all the ways that the life of our church has returned to being robust these past several months after such a long challenging period, I can feel what Paul is talking about. I get excited for every good surprise that God has in store. My heart has a sense of anticipation for what God is doing in out midst. There is a distinct feeling of joy seeing children playing in our courtyard or people coming together to pack for our Blessings in a Backpack program. I look at our upcoming events like the Food Bowl and our Community Gala (which is the theme for our annual church and school auction) and I can’t wait for everyone to be filled with the joy of being the church together. This is a unique feeling. I feel that I am being swept up in seeing God’s Spirit moving in our midst.
I pray that all the joy God has in store for Holy Spirit will mean we are enriched in Jesus, in speech and knowledge of every kind.
We love you and God loves you,
Josh Condon+