A reflection by Ros Hughes
Yr wyf yn gweddio ar iddo ganiatau I chwi, yn ol cyfoeth ei ogoniant, gryfder nerthol trwy’r Ysbryd yn y dyn oddi mewn, ac ar I Grist breswylio yn eich calonnau drwy ffydd. Boed I chwi, sydd a chariad yn wreiddyn a Sylfaen eich bywydd gael eich galluogi I amgyffred ynghyd a’r holl saint beth yw lled a hyd ac uchder a dyfnder cariad Crist, a gwybod am y cariad hwnnw, er ei fod uchlaw gwybodaeth. Felly dygir chwi I gyflawnder, hyd at holl gyflawnder Duw.
Effesiaid / Ephesians 3:17-20
I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What does this phrase ‘rooted and grounded in love’ mean to us today?
Recently, I was watching our young grandchildren delight in gently caring for their pets and showing real love and concern for their well-being. Perhaps, this indicates that we all have an inborn care and concern for the things around us. This side of our nature needs to be nurtured and encouraged as we grow and develop throughout life. Because of this we help our children to be ‘rooted and grounded’ in the values we ourselves have, that have inspired and supported us in our own lives.
Jesus in his teachings spoke of the need for us to build our lives and faith securely rooted as the seed in the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, or grounded on firm foundations as illustrated in the parable of the wise man building his house on the rock that stood firm in the storm. Jesus said, ‘Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like; He is like a man building his house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.’ Luke 6:47,48.
Although, this letter from St Paul to the Ephesians, speaks of the need for secure foundations, ’rooted and grounded’, the emphasis is on the word ‘love.’
We have so many references in our Bible passages to ‘love’ and we can read and hear so many further writings, sermons and talks on this subject. I was initially reluctant to put pen to paper on this subject yet again! But ’love’ is so fundamental to our faith and life that we cannot avoid using this amazing word ‘love.’
What does love mean to you? When have you been most aware of being really loved? And when have you been most aware of giving your love?
The further verses in this letter of St Paul is a beautiful prayer that we might fully know the love of Christ that ‘surpasses knowledge.’ Understanding this depth of love is a tall order, but perhaps understanding this love is far less important than knowing it, feeling it, and sharing it.
If we pause and think about how full the Gospels and indeed the Bible is of ‘love’ – how do you feel ‘rooted and grounded in love’ today? And how does this prompt action and expression for you now?
Gweddi – Cariad ar waith
Arglwydd, diolch iti am dy gariad: y cariad sy’n adfer, y cariad sy’n adfywio, y cariad sy’n adeiladu gobaith. Helpa ni bob dydd i chwilio am gyfleoedd ymarferol i rhoi dy gariad di ar waith. Amen
Prayer – Love in Action
Lord, thank you for your love: the love that restores, the love that renews, the love that builds hope. Help us each day to seek practical opportunities to put that love into action. Amen
Christian Aid Cymru
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