Part of St Paul's purpose in writing his Letters to his early communities was to encourage them to live their Christian lives with that same fervour and commitment which animated them when they first received Baptism: "Continue to live in Christ Jesus, in the spirit in which you received him".

In today's passage from the Letter to the Colossians, Paul moves almost from speaking about "growing stronger in faith" to "overflowing with gratitude". Gratitude and thanksgiving are essential elements of our Christian lives For gratitude keeps our attention focussed on all that we have received from God's hands. As St Paul reminds us elsewhere: "What do you have that has not been given to you" [1Cor 4:7]. Everything we have in life has been given us; everything is gift and, coming from God's love for us; everything is grace; they are graces of faith, hope and love, the gift of the Eucharist, which is the Church's great Thanksgiving. Every gift is to be gratefully appreciated, cherished and fostered so that it continually adds to our spiritual strength.