Aroma of Christ

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing  - 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

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Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 2:10-18, focus verses 14-15, and St Paul's use of the triumphal procession of Roman general after their victorious conquests, to illustrate the point that our victory is already won through Christ and in Christ alone. Also our lives should exude the fragrance of His Grace in our thoughts, words and deeds. This is only possible if I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

Reflecting on the passage and my own struggles with venial habitual sins, I thank God for His Sacrament of Reconciliation and the countless times that I've received absolution through the actions of the priest (in persona Christi) ie. the power to forgive sins came from Christ, who had instituted this Sacrament after His glorious resurrection in John 20:22-23: When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 

I will close my short sharing with the words of this hymn, "Turn Your Eyes" by Sovereign Grace Music. My prayer is that all of us here will turn our eyes unto Jesus in moments of human weakness and fiery trials to truly exude His fragrance in our own earthly lives, to a world that is descending into godlessness and endless fears (of wars and calamities).

Verse 1 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus 

Look full in His wonderful face 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 

In the light of His glory and grace 

Verse 2 

Turn your eyes to the hillside 

Where justice and mercy embraced 

There the Son of God gave His life for us

And our measureless debt was erased 

Chorus 

Jesus, to You we lift our eyes 

Jesus, to You we lift our eyes

Jesus, our glory and our prize 

We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true 

Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to You

Verse 3 

Turn your eyes to the morning 

And see Christ the Lion awake 

What a glorious dawn, fear of death is gone 

For we carry His life in our veins

Verse 4 

Turn your eyes to the heavens

Our King will return for His own

Every knee will bow, every tongue will shout, 

'All glory to Jesus alone!'

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/UHHPbBfinXs?si=NYnQ1pnGxkJ_z-sI 

Original words (V1) and music by Helen H. Lemmel. Add. words (V2-4) by George Romanacce, Nathan Stiff, Nic Trout, and Kevin Winebarger. Chorus by George Romanacce, Nathan Stiff, Nic Trout, and Kevin Winebarger 

© 2019 Sovereign Grace Worship/ASCAP, Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI, Sovereign Grace Songs/SESAC (adm. by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 2:10-18 by Chris Tan

Proclaim Jesus Christ

"For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake." – 2 Corinthians 4:5

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Dear friends in Christ Jesus, each follower of Jesus who has encountered Him personally and lives the values He has taught is also ought to share that faith with his neighbors. This is a call for each Christians. If we have received the faith then we need to understand that it is purely God's gift and his mercy. Jesus has already paid the price for us.

As we know, it is quite challenging in this modern world to preach the gospel of Christ. Paul is encouraging all those who are involved in such ministries not to lose their hearts. He also reminds us that we are not seeking our glory by proclaiming ourselves but we are to proclaim Jesus and seek His glory.  

Paul is comparing the disciples of Jesus as clay jars which are fragile. The power does not come from us but belongs to God. He is the source. We are to be his faithful slaves who seek God's glory. Paul also reminds us that in the process of our ministry in proclaiming the gospel we will have to face afflictions and persecutions but at the same time we won't be crushed or forsaken.

Let's ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in the true path. Let the life of Jesus be visible for others in and through our lives. Let our lights shine in the darkness.  Amen.

 

Bible Reflection on 2 Corinthians 4:1-9 by Fr. George Joseph SVD

New creation

''If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away.  Behold, the new has come" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

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This line of reflection invites us to live happily in the present moment while being grateful for the blessings, graces, joys, and sorrows that have occurred in the past. Our past is an inseparable part of our lives, but that doesn't mean we should dwell in it. Whatever happened in the past is a story that we cannot deny, but we must accept it with gratitude because God certainly always has a plan for us behind every event and occurrence. When we receive baptism as Christians, we become new creations, new people. We should live as new people in Christ, doing deeds of light such as goodness, joy, peace, and so on.   Our lifetime here on earth is too short for us to always grieving the past.

We are invited to fully enjoy our present life by doing good deeds.  Why do we wanted to live in darkness just because we want to enjoy life?  Maybe some of us still enjoying debauchery which is then spiced up with drunkenness, slandering and killing people with our tongues and actions, jealousy, laziness?  Actually it’s brings anxiety that will never end in our lives.  In this holy Lenten season, let us freely leave our old live and embrace our life as children of God.  Our conscience longs for a quiet life full of peace in planning the future, a life full of confidence in God's love in the present.  If we cannot accept our past, we cannot enjoy the present and also cannot focus on preparing for the future.  

Didn't Jesus allow all events to happen in our lives?  If up to now we are still "tortured" by the past, let's believe in God that everything happens with His permission.  Make peace with the past, be grateful that we are still given health and fresh breath until now.  Let's fight together to do God's will so that one day we can be happy together in the kingdom of heaven.  Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 by Sr Yanti Purnawati SFSC