Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings – II Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4: 25-5: 2; John 6: 35,41-51
This morning let us turn our attention to the reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Unlike the letters to the Corinthians, the Romans, the Galatians, the Colossians, and the Thessalonians, the earliest manuscripts do not include the name, Ephesians. Some scholars believe it was a letter by St. Paul written not to a particular congregation, but rather a circular letter meant to be shared by many congregations. We know St. Paul wrote it in Rome while in prison awaiting trial.
Our portion this morning included the bold proclamation
we are members of one another
Elsewhere St. Paul wrote that we are all members of the Body of Christ, and therefore, can not reject one another. For example:
the eye cannot say to the hand, I have not need of you. And the head cannot say to the feet, I have not need of you. I Corinthians 12: 21-22
We are all essential to a fully functioning church, to a fully functioning body. This is a good reminder every time we attempt to discount someone else’s presence.
The next line of interest is be angry but do not sin.
In the Holy Scripture, we learn that Jesus got angry.
Mark 3:5 when the scribes and Pharisees did not approve of his healing on the Sabbath.
John 2:13-17 when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple in Jerusalem.
Anger, indeed, is appropriate when children go hungry in a land of plenty when young people at a concert are kidnapped, when a school full of refugees is destroyed, and when a community gathering is shattered with gunfire. Anger is as appropriate as it can to corrective action.
St. Paul continued that whatever comes out of the mouth is to be for “building up” of one another, that our “words may give grace to those who hear”. We are to support one another with grace.
St. Paul also wrote that we are to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven [us].
The Greek word for “kindness” is chestos, putting our sisters and our brothers needs ahead of our own needs. As we have been fully embraced by God with forgiveness, so we are to fully embrace others with forgiveness.
The final thought of this reading raises the challenge for us even higher.
…be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…
To be Christians, we are to be Christ-like; we are to be Jesus-like.
Over the next few months there will be much conversation and much on our small and large screens to wade through.
It will be a challenge to remember that we are members of one another.
It will be a challenge to be kind to one another, and tenderhearted.
It will be a challenge to share words of grace.
It will be a challenge to be imitators of God.
In the midst of it all, may we read the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and walk like Jesus walked.
In the midst of it all may we all say our private prayers.
In the midst of it all may we worship together.
In the midst of it all
May the Lord bless us and keep us.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon us,
and be gracious unto us.
May the Lord turn his face towards us, and give us peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
