Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Colossians 2:16–19, ESV
Shortly before this portion, Paul gives a warning about getting caught up in the philosophies of the age. It is easy to do so and listen to a great preacher as he spins a yarn that has a minor thread in Scripture, but much of it comes from the heart and mind of the man. We can become caught up in the new visions of others who speak as if they have a word from God. Yet, like the false prophets of old, they create something that they know will fit the liking of those who are listening to them. We are warned to be cautious and careful of these things, but remember that we have been made a new creation through our Baptism and have been covered in Christ and His promises. When we realize our failures, we can come to our Lord knowing that the death we deserve has been covered by our Lord, and we are raised in Him. These words are repeated often by Paul and point to our Lord and what He did for us to give us this hope and certainty. We have no need to remove ourselves from the world; all the special times of worship and fasting will not bring us an ounce more of salvation. We are to keep our eyes focused on Christ and Christ alone, keeping Him at the Head and working within His body to be and do all that He has set us apart to do. He is the One who feeds us and gives us the ability to do the work. It is not ours that we have earned, but it is ours to claim. As we claim it, we hold fast to it, and in it, we can know peace. This is the peace and hope we carry out into the world. A peace they cannot know except through Christ and the proclamation of His Gospel. Let our eyes remain focused and our ears remain attentive as we seek to see and listen to all our Lord has presented before us.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.