Pondering for Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening, Psalms 81 and 82;

Leviticus 26:27 to 42; Ephesians 1:1 to 10; Matthew 22:41 to 46:

“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 1:7 – 10)

These are the opening words to the Church in Ephesus by Paul or someone writing for Paul. The writer, through revelation from God, shares with us that the forgiveness of our sins has been God’s plan from the beginning of our time, to be made manifest in the fullness of our time. This is free grace that is lavished on us from God through the blood (or life) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of whom we partake of at our Holy Communion.

As adopted children of God through our brother Jesus, we are called to continue in the work of gathering all things (all people) to God. I look at us Christians as the care takers of the world, both people and all creation. Hints from Genesis suggest that after the world was made the caretaker creatures were placed onboard to maintain this place. We are the caretakers.  “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will.”

Our own human selves are not excluded from our own care. Just as charity begins in the home, so too does human self-care.  Among the human species, the Christian is like unto a flight attendant.  Flight attendants serve to make the passengers safe and comfortable while on their journey.  Flight attendants are not recruiting more flight attendants for a particular airline.  We Christians also are here to serve all people, Christian and non-Christian alike, while not trying to make all people Christian. “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.”  This is what I believe the Spirit of God told the writer of the letter to the Church in Ephesus, and this is what I believe the Spirit is still  saying to us today.

Today we remember Julian of Norwich: Contemplative (8 May 1417). Her bio can be found at Julian of Norwich (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, creator and lover of all that is, please give us who follow our Lord Jesus more guidance as we strive to reconcile all people to you in whatever path they are on. Amen.