"Commonwealth... of Promise."

"I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, compassion, and gentleness.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, arrogance, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, cynicism, and self-importance.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly."


Ephesians 2:11-13
11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,^* called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— ¹²remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.


1) "...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel;" "...strangers to the covenants of promise;" "...without God in the world;" "...But now;" "...brought near by the blood of Christ;" "...remember;" "...at one time;" "...remember that at one time;" "...remember that you were at that time;" "...aliens from the commonwealth... strangers to the covenants;" "...no hope;"


2) I love the poetry of Paul's expression, the way he layers statements to emphasis his point.  It can be so easy to forget that things have not always been the way they currently are.  In fact, its easy to forget that things aren't currently the way they seem.  Paul is calling on the Gentiles for some humility.  It seems someone may have been proclaiming that these "Gentile Christians" or "uncircumcised Christians" are God's new favorites, and God has abandoned the Jews, or those who have been "circumcised."  "I'm a better Christian that you" is neither a new game, nor one that we've grown out of.  It is a thing of the "flesh" or human action that has us creating hierarchies of who's better than anyone else.  Paul asserts that by the blood of Christ, we all become the same.  I'm usually not fond of emphasizing "the blood and body of Christ," I think folks tend to take it way too literally.  But when congregation members complain that the bread is gluten free this week, I like to remind them that Jesus died, alone, an excruciating, shameful death on a cross, and they are complaining about bread that isn't to their liking.  It's so easy to think we are all that, while grumbling about trivialities.


3) What is the invitation in all this?  To consciously practice some humility and gratitude.


"Holy One, thank you for the commonwealth of hope and promise."


Breathprayer: "Commonwealth... of promise."