Faithful Conversations #72

Introduction to Readers:

“History and memory share events; that is, they share time and space. Every moment is two moments.” 

This observation by Canadian poet and novelist Anne Michaels (b. 1958) beautifully captures the intricate relationship between history and memory. Every moment exists as both a historical event and a personal memory, intertwined in the fabric of time. This week’s readings reminded me of Michaels’ observation. And, I suppose, every time we’re in the scriptures, this dynamic is at play. WHAT actually happened? And HOW do we remember it? And further, WHY are we prompted to remember it? These are the operative questions — keep them in mind as you work your way through the readings this week. My reflections will focus on the passage from Ephesians. As always, thanks for visiting this space again this week! I’m honored by your presence.

Let’s Get Started!  A Quick Take on Sunday’s Lectionary:

The readings for Pentecost 8 share a common theme of prophetic call and divine purpose. Amos 7:7-15 highlights the unwavering commitment of prophets to convey God’s message despite adversity. Psalm 85:8-13 speaks of God’s steadfast love and righteousness, promising redemption and restoration to those who seek Him. Ephesians 1:3-14 underscores God’s predestined plan for salvation and adoption, emphasizing His grace and the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers. Mark 6:14-29 recounts the tragic consequences of John the Baptist’s prophetic ministry, illustrating the cost of truth-telling and fidelity to God’s will. Together, these readings underscore the profound intersections of divine calling, justice, and the enduring promise of God’s grace throughout history.

The Readings for Pentecost 8
Amos 7: 7-15
Psalm 85: 8-13
Ephesians 1: 3-14 (Focus Reading)
Mark 6: 14-29

The New Testament Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14 (Easy to Read Version)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. ⁴ In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. ⁵ And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. ⁶ And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.

⁷ In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. ⁸ God gave us that grace fully and freely. With full wisdom and understanding ⁹ he let us know his secret plan. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. ¹⁰ God’s goal was to finish his plan when the right time came. He planned that all things in heaven and on earth be joined together with Christ as the head.

¹¹ In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already planned for us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And he is the one who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. ¹² We Jews were the first to hope in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God in all his glory. ¹³ It is the same with you. You heard the true message, the Good News about the way God saves you. When you heard that Good News, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he promised. ¹⁴ The Spirit is the first payment that guarantees we will get all that God has for us. Then we will enjoy complete freedom as people who belong to him. The goal for all of us is the praise of God in all his glory.

Reflections: who are we?  

Thirteen letters from the New Testament are attributed to St. Paul. Seven of those are undisputed by scholars: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. The remaining six are disputed — that is, Paul’s authorship is not universally accepted, including the tenth book of the New Testament, Ephesians. As noted in my Lutheran Study Bible, “it was not uncommon for a disciple of a famous teacher to write a letter in the name of the teacher,” and perhaps that is the case with Ephesians. Tradition holds (again, with conflicting claims) that Paul wrote to the Ephesians while in prison in Rome (c. 62), along with Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians.

First, some context for this powerful passage from the first chapter. Ephesus was an ancient Greek and Roman city on the west coast of Anatolia (present day Turkey). It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria and served as a major seaport and center of commerce. Known for the famed Temple of Artemis completed in 550 BCE and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the church in Ephesus was also one of the seven cited in Revelation (chapter 2). Notably, the city became an important center for Christianity from 50 CE onward (intriguing to note that Mary, mother of Jesus, is believed to have settled there). Paul lived there from 53-56, working with a congregation and organizing missionary activity into the surrounding hinterlands. Among other things, he became embroiled in a dispute with artisans there whose livelihood depended on the sale of statuettes of Artemis (note Acts 19: 23-41 — a dramatic story!). He is writing to his former colleagues years later (perhaps from prison) to help them navigate various challenges they face.

What should we take away from this week’s passage? (Sidebar: To be honest, it is so packed with theology that I had to read it a number of times. I learned while researching these verses that in the original Greek, 3-14 is one sentence! This is reflected in the King James Version, which you can access here! I utilized the “Easy to Read” version in my posting). These things stand out to me: first, it is important to imagine how first-generation Christians may have read these words nearly 2,000 years ago. We know the letter was circulated among many of the earliest churches. They were experiencing the split between Jews and Gentiles, and that particular conflict is addressed throughout the letter (note verses 4-6 and 9-11, for example). In a larger sense, our spiritual ancestors lived in a polytheistic culture in the throes of a cosmic struggle — not unlike the world we inhabit! Paul is framing that world for them within the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (realize that the crucifixion occurred merely thirty years prior to this writing!).  And while he is speaking to them, he is also speaking to us.

Second, reread the full passage again, focusing on verses 11-14, with these two questions in mind: WHO AM I? WHO ARE WE? These verses are a great reminder of our Christian identity, that we are spiritual beings experiencing an earthly journey. We live within that great mystery and with the assurance that our story is eternal. Our Creator God loves us — imagine that! We do not understand it all today, but someday we will!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

If interested, join us after the 8:30 service at ELC on 14 July for some in-person discussion of this week’s readings. No special expertise or prior knowledge is necessary! all are welcome!