The Epiphany Of Our Lord
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
... so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might be made known....
-- Ephesians 3:1-12
Ephesians lifts up an understanding of the role of the church in God's plan. The mystery of Christ was made visible in Paul's own story. Here was a Zealot violently pursuing a mission to destroy the early group of Christians. God took this enemy of the church and transformed him into its chief champion. "Although I am least of all the saints, this grace was given to me...." This movement of God in Paul's life became a parable of God's work in Christ. God was, in Christ, transforming the Gentile outsider into a member of the people of God. The mystery that had been hidden that "the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body ..." was now revealed. The mystery of "the boundless riches of Christ" was revealed in Paul's life. In turn, he was made "a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles." Paul was captured by this parable of grace in his own life and commissioned to "bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ." This limitless grace in Christ is the secret to God's plan "hidden for ages in God who created all things." This truth that the grace of God has no boundaries and reaches out to include the most disparate of peoples is now the commission of the church. The church is to carry this message of grace to all authorities in heaven and earth. The church's commission is to boldly proclaim that everyone can have "access to God in boldness and confidence." The incredible task of the church is to become that parable of grace to the world and break through the walls of exclusive membership that is so common in human groups.
-- Ephesians 3:1-12
Ephesians lifts up an understanding of the role of the church in God's plan. The mystery of Christ was made visible in Paul's own story. Here was a Zealot violently pursuing a mission to destroy the early group of Christians. God took this enemy of the church and transformed him into its chief champion. "Although I am least of all the saints, this grace was given to me...." This movement of God in Paul's life became a parable of God's work in Christ. God was, in Christ, transforming the Gentile outsider into a member of the people of God. The mystery that had been hidden that "the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body ..." was now revealed. The mystery of "the boundless riches of Christ" was revealed in Paul's life. In turn, he was made "a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles." Paul was captured by this parable of grace in his own life and commissioned to "bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ." This limitless grace in Christ is the secret to God's plan "hidden for ages in God who created all things." This truth that the grace of God has no boundaries and reaches out to include the most disparate of peoples is now the commission of the church. The church is to carry this message of grace to all authorities in heaven and earth. The church's commission is to boldly proclaim that everyone can have "access to God in boldness and confidence." The incredible task of the church is to become that parable of grace to the world and break through the walls of exclusive membership that is so common in human groups.
