Blessings

Pentecost 8, July 14, 2024

Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

There is much to unpack in our lesson from Ephesians today. Of all the letters of Paul Ephesians seems to be one of if not the best written. In fact some scholars suggest that this letter was not written by Paul because it uses vocabulary and grammar that is not found in other Pauline letters. Our lesson for today is part of that discussion. It is the second blessing (the first is the first two verses) in the letter and is not like the opening blessings of Paul’s other letters. There is also a great deal of information packed within this blessing some of which, even today, is cause for argument. 

Paul starts out by blessing God. Which may seem a bit strange. We usually think of God blessing us. But it is a Jewish tradition to bless God especially at the beginning of a prayer. The question then is, “How many times have you blessed God?” Paul, in the rest of this blessing, is reminding us that it is in living our lives as God desires that we bless God. We bless God by joyfully and abundantly sharing  what God has given us with others. 

Paul then continues his blessing with something that has brought about much controversy in the church. That is the issue of predestination. Is Paul saying that God, from the beginning, had chosen (predestined) those who would be saved? Some churches understand it in this way. Some go further and say, therefore, since God decided who will be saved, God also decided who will be condemned. Although this is saying something that Paul is not saying. If this is what Paul means then God has removed from us the gift of free will. If this would be true you would no longer be responsible for what you say and do – your destiny is predetermined. Some do soften this by saying that it means that God knew from the beginning who will be saved. Although this actually says nothing. What Paul is saying, I believe, is that God sent Jesus, God’s only son, into the world so that all may be offered the gift of redemption and give praise to God – so that all things may be redeemed. God does not desire to save only a few but all. That is where we come in.

Although this is not an easy task. Let us take our other two readings. Amos, a simple herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees was called to confront the king. What a challenge that was. The powerless giving God’s message of destruction to the powerful. Only with God’s support could Amos have done that. We also have John the Baptist. He was called by God to proclaim God’s will to the people and he, though powerless, confronted the powerful. Because of that confrontation he lost his life. Even Paul struggled, and in the end lost his life because he answered God’s call to share God’s will. Even in the midst of his struggle Paul was able to bless God for God’s call.

You also have been called by God through the waters of baptism called to praise God. What better way to praise God than by sharing the salvation that Jesus won for us with others. We do that in many different ways by sharing the gifts of God – peace, hope, and love. Unlike our examples in the scripture today, your life is not on the line. Instead you are called to love others as God loves you. That love can be expressed in many different ways. We share the gifts that God has given us. We give a helping hand and a kind word to those who are need. We pray for others. In fact, God’s gifts are so abundant and the opportunities many we can fill our days blessing and praising God with our lives.