DAILY DEVOTIONS

'Chosen Before Time'

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world...

- Ephesians 1:3-4

THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE was brought forth from nothing, according to one school of thought, so that Christ could become human, and we, by partaking in his life, could share in his divinity. By such a plan, God would have chosen us even before the act of creation had begun, chosen all humanity to be transformed by grace.

I find that notion at least as mind-boggling as the Big Bang theory or the possibility of life in outer space or the idea of parallel universes. We speak of generosity as being willing to go to the ends of the earth for someone. God's generosity first creates a whole universe and then takes him to every corner of it. All so that you and I might have the fullness of human and divine life just as Jesus has.

Let us give God praise and glory.

- Mark Neilsen