Mark 6:14-29

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 11, 2021

Proper 10

We heard a hymn or a song of praise in the second reading, the letter of Paul to the Ephesians. It begins from verse 3 of chapter 1. (Lectionary p.300)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,……

In the original Greek text, the sentence is very long. Paul’s praise and thanksgiving for God’s work of salvation overflowed and became a hymn or a song which continued till verse 14.

Now let us pay attention to three words in the beginning part.

First word is “bless”.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

In short God has blessed us in Christ. We are blessed in Christ by God.

The second word is “choose”.

4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before him in love.

We were not abandoned nor forgotten but chosen by God. God says to us, “you are mine.”

The third word is “adoption”.

 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ.

God adopted us as his children. We are children of God. Do not be afraid. We are kept and led as his children by God.

Here we heard the triple love of God to us.

First, God has blessed us in Christ.

Second, God chose us in Christ.

Third, God adopted us as his children.

But we may think these words are too abstract apart from the real world. By no means! Paul knows the real world and he has been struggling with it severely.

In the last part of the letter, Paul encourages the Ephesians who are troubled and are on trial.

Let us read the text chapter 6 verse 10.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Today we heard the triple love of God to us.

First, God has blessed us in Christ.

Second, God chose us in Christ.

Third, God adopted us as his children.

These are the foundation and encouragement for us in the struggle on the earth.

We are also in the real world and struggling.

May the words of the Bible comfort and encourage us.