Sunday 11 July 2021

Today is Sunday the 11 July, beginning the 15th week of Ordinary time.  

Maximillian sings, ‘Redemption’.  

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.        

The blessing from St Paul to the Ephesian community is just one long sentence of reassurance that God loves them. Not just loves them -  but loves them as a parent loves a child. Not just as a parent loves their birth child, but as a parent loves an adopted child – a child that they have chosen and have chosen to love. Paul cannot tell them enough how much they are loved.  

Take a moment to think about your relationship with God. Do you feel as secure as a young child, wanted, chosen, blessed?  

As you listen to the passage again on this Sabbath day, hear Paul calling this blessing upon you. Find peace in these words.  

In a moment of prayer be open to the Lord and share your feelings with him.  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.