In the vast expanse of His divine affection,
We dwell, a testament to love's perfection.
Beyond comprehension, His love so grand,
Guiding us gently by His unseen hand.
Not by our might, nor by power, we stand,
But by His grace, on this holy land.
Our achievements, a mirror of His grace,
Reflecting the warmth of His embrace.
Humility, a beacon on our spiritual quest,
In God's word, we find our rest.
Seeking wisdom, seeking understanding,
In His promises, we find our standing.
Bold in faith, we march ahead,
Trust in His promises, our daily bread.
In the face of trials, in the face of strife,
We find strength in the Giver of Life.
Let us pray, let us kneel,
In His love, let us heal.
To understand His love, so profound,
In His fullness, may we be found.
REFLECTION:
Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
Experience and dwell in God’s love that is beyond human comprehension.
Our achievements are not by our own strength, but by God’s grace. Humility is important in our spiritual journey as we seek understanding and wisdom in God’s word. We should always be bold in our faith and to trust in God’s promises.
Let us pray to be strengthened, to understand God’s love, and to be filled with the fullness of God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You today to experience and dwell in Your love that is beyond our human comprehension. We acknowledge that our achievements are not by our own strength, but by Your grace.
Humility is the cornerstone of our spiritual journey as we seek understanding and wisdom in Your word. We pray for the courage to always be bold in our faith and to trust in Your promises.
We ask You to strengthen us, to help us understand Your love, and to fill us with Your fullness. May we grow in Your grace and knowledge each day, and may our lives be a testament to Your unfailing love and mercy.
In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
III: World Mission of the Church
COMMISSION TO PREACH GOD'S PLAN / PRAYER FOR THE READERS
Ephesians 3:1-13 /14-21
Second Reading | Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
8 Brothers and sisters: To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him. 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Background:
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 is a passage from the New Testament that is filled with expressions of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer to God. The Apostle Paul, who was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles, wrote these words to the people of Ephesus.
In this passage, Paul acknowledges that he was made a minister of the gospel according to the gift of God’s grace. Despite considering himself the least of all the saints, this grace was given to him to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. He was tasked to make plain to everyone the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things.
Paul’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. This was according to the eternal purpose that God accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
In verses 14-19, Paul offers a prayer for the Ephesians. He prays that they may be strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. He prays that they, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. He prays that they may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
This passage stands as a testimony to divine love and mercy, and it portrays God’s heart in conflict with his plans, his compassion averting his anger. It’s a beautiful depiction of God’s enduring love and patience, even in the face of disobedience and rebellion. It invites us to reflect on our own actions and attitudes and challenge us to become better individuals and communities.
Learning Lessons:
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 offers several profound lessons:
Humility: Paul, despite being an apostle, refers to himself as the least of all the saints. This teaches us the importance of humility in our spiritual journey.
God’s Grace: The passage emphasizes that it is by God’s grace that we are saved and called to serve Him. This reminds us that our achievements are not by our own strength, but by God’s grace.
The Mystery of God: Paul speaks about the mystery of God’s plan that has now been revealed through Jesus Christ. This encourages us to seek understanding and wisdom in God’s word.
Boldness and Confidence in Faith: Paul encourages believers to approach God with freedom and confidence. This teaches us to be bold in our faith and to trust in God’s promises.
The Power of Prayer: In verses 14-19, Paul prays for the Ephesians to be strengthened, to understand God’s love, and to be filled with the fullness of God. This underscores the power of prayer in our lives.
God’s Love: The passage speaks about the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge. This invites us to experience and dwell in God’s love that is beyond human comprehension.
Remember, these lessons are not just historical or theological points, but practical guides that we can apply in our daily lives to grow spiritually and morally. They invite us to reflect on our own actions and attitudes, and challenge us to become better individuals and communities. (Conversation with Copilot)
