Ephesians: Paul's Great Letter About the Church

The Epistle reading appointed for today is taken from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. (Ephesians 1:1-10).

 

Ephesians is Paul’s great letter about the church. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is Christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God’s plan of salvation known throughout the universe. This idea of church is anchored in God’s saving love, shown in Jesus Christ, and the whole of redemption is rooted in the plan and accomplishment of God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Paul uses the language of praise and of liturgy and hymns.  Paul reminds us that you and I are the church; we are the body of Christ and Jesus is our head.  God’s plan is to gather everyone and everything together in Christ.

 

Let us pray:  Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus who is the Christ.  Send your Holy Spirit to make us one in Christ that we may reflect your love in the world.  Amen.

 

Today the Church also remembers and honors a Reformer, John Calvin who was born on 10 July 1509 and died on 27 May 1564.  He was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Reformation. Calvin was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against Protestants in France, Calvin fled to Switzerland, where in 1536 he published the first edition of his seminal work Institutes of the Christian Religion.

 

Let us pray: Sovereign and holy God, you brought John Calvin from a study of legal systems to understand the godliness of your divine laws as revealed in Scripture: Fill us with a like zeal to teach and preach your Word, that the whole world may come to know your Son Jesus Christ, the true Word and Wisdom; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, ever one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Every Wednesday, the Healing Arts Ministry with Lee Runion starting at 11:00 AM with a light lunch provided.

 

The Seaside Seniors meet every third Thursday of the month in Sutton Hall at 1100 AM.

 

The Adult Christian Education series continues: “The Resurrection: Now What?”  We have explored how the Bible came to be and now we will explore the Patristic period and the Nicene Creed.  Come join us at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List and especially Pat, Patricia, and all of those who are serving in the Armed Forces.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550