I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,* may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God*. ~Ephesians 3:17-19
Paul is writing to the Ephesians, and as he brings his letter to a close, he writes the above words. Interestingly, he starts with "being rooted and established in love." That is where it all begins, being rooted. Paul is praying that their roots go deep. It is somewhat reminiscent of Psalm 1, "Blessed is the one*...whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.** That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season*..." The psalmist is describing someone whose roots have gone deep. When your roots are deep, regardless of the situation of life you have stability.
Reflecting on this passage, we see that Christ's love is immeasurable and all-encompassing, reaching every part of our lives. When we truly experience this love, it transforms us from the inside out and empowers us to live with greater faith and compassion. The roots provide nourishment. The roots sustain the tree during drought.
Paul is saying, Find ways to help the roots go deep. Notice the following phrase he writes... "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,* and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."*
As I have begun to study the contemplative process, I find meditating on and contemplating the breadth, depth, height, and length of Christ's love to be quite transformative. I feel he is helping me see things differently. He is helping me hear people in a new kind of way. I find myself pausing and asking myself, "What is the invitation of Jesus in this moment?"
It is pretty ironic that after 40 years of ministry, I still have so much more to learn. So much more to embrace and see. In a way, I am at a different stage of life and ministry. My prayer is that I will help people see how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the love of Christ is for them. In Jesus' name. Amen.