July 14: Blessings and Glory

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The second reading from Ephesians is rather long and with only six sentences, it is not easy to follow. If you take it apart, you see that Paul is very encouraging. He is giving a description of the many blessings God has given us.

He says that we are chosen by God and destined for spiritual blessings: First is Redemption, meaning that Christ saved us from punishment for our sins by forgiving them instead. Second is the plan of God for saving everyone, by making Christ ruler of the universe. We have to accept these gifts by letting go of the temptations around us and holding on to the love we have received from God. The things of the world, possessions, wealth, or power that pretend to make us happy are replaced with love of God; we then share that love with others, so that they know God loves them, too. As our experience of God’s love grows, we begin to understand the mystery of how God lives in all people. Another blessing Paul notes is adoption by God to a new relationship as brothers and sisters of Christ; holiness is now for all believers, not just priests or religious.

Paul also reminds us that we are chosen and destined to help God bring his plan, his Kingdom, to completion. When we teach children how to love and share, when we are honest with customers or suppliers, when we are not ashamed to show our faith in Jesus, when we are respectful of the poor, elderly, or disabled, we are slowly building the Kingdom of God, or as Paul says, “to bring all things together in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Eph 1:10)

Paul mentions three times in this reading about “the praise of God’s glory.” (Eph 1:14) When we are able to help or forgive, or just be a good example to others, we want them to know that God is in all the good we do. Instead of taking credit for the results, we give God the glory. No, you don’t have to take off your glasses and put on a red cape before helping others. Just mention that God does the real work, we just try not to get in his way.

Tom Schmidt