Thoughts for the Day

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I brought some cuttings from my old garden and planted them in pots, initially. They looked pretty pathetic, but suddenly leaves are appearing. I know there are two different colours of astrantia and Japanese anemones, but what colour each plant is, well it's unknown! However, they are growing strongly, and I can plant them into the garden in due course when I have removed the brambles and made some good weed-free ground space.

Paul is writing to the churches around Ephesus*. He's not responding to a particular crisis, but is seeking to build up the Christians and the Churches, and his vision is breathtaking. Like plants in difficult terrain he wants them to be "rooted and grounded" not in soil, but in the love of Christ. He sees the Church as being called to change the whole world then(Ephesians 3.10) and in the future.

This section of Ephesians is a prayer, indeed Paul writes as many as 30 or 40 prayers across all his letters, and he closes this one with the doxology, a short hymn of praise to God. It's one we often use in Church at the end of hymns.

We might think of ourselves as plants growing in difficult terrain - ie in a secular world - but if we can stay rooted in Christ's love we can begin to make a difference to this world, and we will continue to grow good spiritual fruits.

*Note there is some dispute by scholars about who wrote this Epistle.

Lord Jesus Christ,
give us the imagination
to make a difference to the world around us -
to encourage justice for those in need,
protection for the vulnerable,
and relief for the poor.
Give us also the courage
to speak about our faith
and what it means to us.
And may we remain rooted
and grounded in Your love
for all time.
Amen.