Greetings, dear readers.
It is wonderful to connect with all of you today. On this 9th Sunday after Pentecost, I have some reflections to share from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians. Specifically, I want to delve into Ephesians chapter 2, verses 13 to 14:
“To the Gentiles, Paul writes, remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, writes Paul, in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Paul’s words, “You who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” resonate deeply as they encapsulate the transformative power of Christ’s love.
The Power of Perspective
At home, my daughters love to play with an old cell phone. They make videos, take pictures, and even edit funny features into their creations. Recently, they attached the phone to a remote control vehicle and cast the image to a TV in another room, using it as a spy cam. They even claimed to know all the ingredients of a smoothie I was making!
What stands out for me is how sometimes they zoom in so closely on a picture that it becomes difficult to identify what it is. This playful “zooming in” mirrors the way we often view our lives, focusing intently on our immediate concerns and missing the larger picture.
Lessons from Bible Study
This past Thursday evening at Bible study, we concluded our study of the book of Daniel. This study was meant to prepare those going to see a live production of Daniel in Lancaster. Throughout our study, we were reminded again and again of the reality of God’s providence, or God’s protective care and control over all creation, our lives included.
God’s providence can be easy to miss when we focus too narrowly on our own immediate situations. When we zoom in too closely, we might question if God is aware of our personal struggles and circumstances.
Zooming Out with the Book of Daniel
The book of Daniel helps us to zoom out and see God’s hand at work not just in Daniel’s immediate circumstances under Babylonian exile, but across centuries. God was always at work, even amidst the evil powers of other kingdoms, drawing people toward His ultimate plan.
David’s Vision Expanded
Today’s scripture from the Old Testament recounts David’s desire to build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant. However, God, through the prophet Nathan, redefined David’s vision by declaring that He, the Lord, would make David a house—a dynasty, culminating in the eternal reign of Christ from David’s line. This required David to zoom out and see God’s greater plan beyond his own immediate desires.
Jesus’s Compassionate Call
In today’s Gospel reading from Mark, we find Jesus inviting His disciples to rest after returning from their missions. Despite their excitement and the constant demands from people, this was also an invitation to zoom out and reflect on the bigger picture of their ministry.
When Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a shepherd, He was moved with compassion. His healing and teaching were previews of His promise in John 12:32: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” This illustrates His working to draw all creation unto Himself, emphasizing a broader divine vision.
Contemporary Divisions and Unity in Christ
Our world today is fraught with divisions—race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, political affiliations, even beliefs about masks and vaccines. When we let these divisions dictate our relationships, we miss out on the profound unity we have in Christ.
Paul’s message to the Ephesians challenges us to recognize that, despite differences, we are all reconciled to the one true God through Jesus Christ. Through faith, we become fellow citizens in God’s household, transcending our divisions.
Personal Reflection: Where Are You?
So, I invite you to reflect: Where are you in this world today? What personal battles are you facing? Are you like David, perhaps comfortable and forgetting your dependence on God? Or are you like the excited disciples, missing the point of God’s work through you? Or maybe like the Ephesians, focusing on what separates rather than unites us?
The Bigger Picture
Remember that God’s view is both from a distance and intimately close. His providence is ever-active, and though we may struggle to see the larger picture, God is drawing us toward His purposes. My prayer for us today is simple: May God grant us the grace to see His hand at work in our lives, to find faith and courage in His guidance, and to remain faithful in following His divine direction.
Thank you for reading, and may you find peace and clarity in embracing the bigger picture of God’s providence in your life.
Amen