In today’s first reading from Colossians Paul is probably quoting from a very early Christian hymn. This hymn sings and teaches us about Jesus and therefore about the one true God. First, we hear that “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God.” From the Greek word for “image” (eikon) comes the religious term “icon.” An Icon is a religious work of art especially common in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. When the Colossian hymn proclaims that Jesus is the “image” of God it means that we see the one true God in Jesus, in his words and deeds, in his passion death and resurrection.
We find the same truth proclaimed in John’s Gospel in Jesus’ dialogue with Philip at the Last Supper:
Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life…. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:6-9)
Whenever we see Jesus as we read the Gospel or hear the Gospel proclaimed we see and experience the one true God.
The Colossian hymn goes on to proclaim that Jesus is “the head of the Body, the Church.” We baptized Christians are the Body of Christ but Jesus is the head. As the head he teaches and guides us and brings about reconciliation with God: “For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross.” This hymn encompasses all the great mysteries of our Christian faith as Jesus Christ is one with God the Father and one with all of us.
Today as we hear this great hymn proclaimed let us reflect on what God is saying to us about his Son and about all of us. He sent us his Son so that we might truly know him and his desire to heal and reconcile all of us.
Image: “Christ Pantocrator” by jimforest is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.