The Christ Hymn of Colossians 1:15-20 and First Friday Devotion

Homily for Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

The first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians is one of the most powerful and poetic passages in the New Testament, often described as a “Christ hymn” because of its lyrical and exalted tone. At the same time, it dovetails quite nicely with the devotion to the Sacred Heart which we celebrate today, the first Friday of September. This hymn states seven realities about Jesus Christ.

Christ as the Image of God: “He is the image of the invisible God…” — This means Jesus makes the unseen God visible. The Greek word eikon implies a perfect representation, not just a reflection. Jesus embodies God's nature and character.

Supremacy Over Creation: “The firstborn of all creation…” — This doesn’t mean Jesus was created, but that He holds the highest rank. He existed before all things and has authority over them.

Creator and Sustainer: “By Him all things were created… and in Him all things hold together.” Jesus is not only the agent of creation but also the glue that keeps the universe from unraveling.

Head of the Church: “He is the head of the body, the church…” — Christ leads and gives life to the church, just as the head directs the body.

Firstborn from the Dead: “That in everything He might be preeminent…” — Through His resurrection, Jesus becomes the first to conquer death permanently, paving the way for others.

Fullness of God Dwelling in Christ: “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” — This affirms Jesus’ divinity. He isn’t partially divine—He is fully God.

Reconciliation Through the Cross: “Making peace by the blood of His cross…” — Jesus’ sacrifice restores harmony between God and creation, healing the brokenness caused by sin.

This passage stretches our understanding of Jesus beyond personal salvation. It places Him at the center of everything—at the center of creation, at the center of our redemption, and at the center of the future of the universe. It’s a sweeping vision of Christ as the cosmic King, reconciling all things to Himself.

What a beautiful convergence of Scripture and devotion. The Christ hymn in Colossians and the First Friday devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus are deeply intertwined in their focus on the cosmic and intimate love of Christ. There are four points where the devotion to the Sacred Heart converges with Colossians 1:15-20.

1. The Fullness of God Dwelling in Christ: “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” (Col 1:19)

This echoes the theology of the Sacred Heart: that Jesus is not just a messenger of God’s love, but Jesus is Love itself incarnate. The Sacred Heart is a symbol of that fullness—God’s mercy, God’s compassion, and God’s desire to dwell among us.

2. Reconciliation Through the Cross: “…making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col 1:20)

The First Friday devotion is rooted in Jesus’ sacrificial love. The Sacred Heart, pierced and bleeding, is the very image of this peace-making. It’s not abstract—it’s personal, redemptive, and offered to each soul.

3. Christ Holds All Things Together: “…in him all things hold together.” (Col 1:17)

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a response to this truth. It’s a way of saying: “Jesus, hold my life together. Reign in my heart as you reign over creation.” The First Friday practice—receiving Communion in reparation for sins—acknowledges that Christ’s love is the glue of the universe and the balm for our brokenness.

4. The Head of the Church: “He is the head of the body, the church…” (Col 1:18)

The Sacred Heart devotion is deeply ecclesial. It’s not just private piety—it’s a call to unite with the Church in love, sacrifice, and mission. The Heart of Jesus beats for the Church, and First Friday is a way to align our hearts with His.

On this First Friday of September, meditating on Colossians 1:15–20 is like gazing into the Sacred Heart itself—seeing Christ as the divine center of all things, and feeling the pulse of His love that reconciles, sustains, and sanctifies.

These three verbs are an apt way to describe the Eucharist we celebrate as part of our First Friday Devotion, for the Eucharist is first and foremost a sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament that sustains us and sanctifies us.