e-vo for week of January 4

Dearest e-votees-

This Friday is January 6—The Epiphany of our Lord—which begins the church season of Epiphany. The Sundays of the season are bookended with Baptism of our Lord (January 8) and Transfiguration of our Lord (February 19). The emphasis of the season is God being revealed. May our days and our experiences make God more apparent to us and to all those we encounter.

Peace,
Karl

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1 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Ephesians 3:1-12, NRSV

Paul’s calling certainly had some challenging aspects—beatings, stoning, confronting and comforting divided and hurting churches, lack of resources, spiritual assaults and the like. Paul spent time in prison, enduring abuse and, as church traditions maintains, being dispatched by beheading at the hands of the Romans. How do you think Paul found the courage and the stamina to face the tedious, brutal and upsetting days that filled up his calendar?

I imagine that Paul had a parchment (or maybe a sheepskin or a scrap left over from his tent-making) that he had carefully inscribed the words above from Ephesians. I can see him reading this to himself when he got up in the morning and the last thing before he extinguished the oil lamp at night. When in prison I could see him hanging this up on the wall next to him. When in front of kings and rulers and tribunals and magistrates I can imagine him reaching into his pocket and feeling the familiar and empowering words that sustained him so often. I can imagine Paul luxuriating in the deep and abiding calling and purpose as articulated in the words above.

These words penned by Paul and the Holy Spirit speak to us too. Maybe we would do well to have them inscribed where we can linger with them. Or, perhaps, we could commit them to memory so they are always accessible. These words speak to us and of us. We are the Gentiles who receive the news of the boundless riches of Christ—thanks be to God. We are called to be part of the church which bears the wisdom of God to the world and its structures of power and authority as well as to the spiritual realms. We are called, with Paul, to be servants of the Gospel. These words of Paul’s are our words too.

We don’t dare enter into such realms of discipleship and service under our own strength and initiation. Jesus grants us access in boldness and confidence to God. God is at work in us and through us being revealed. So as we face our day—whether tedious or brutal or upsetting—God will grant us stamina and courage. As we rub up against powers and authorities and perhaps challenge the status quo God will sustain us and equip us with familiar and empowering words. God calls us and God will equip us to abide in that calling. This is in accordance with the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.


God, reveal yourself to us in this time of Epiphany. Help us experience you in the world and reveal you to the world. Strengthen us with Word and Sacrament. Draw us daily to your mercies and your graces. Help us never lose sight of the high calling you have put upon us even during the most tedious and brutal and upsetting of days. Amen.