Search This Blog

Tuesday 20 June 2017

"Love... Surpasses Knowledge."

"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, and self-importance.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly."


Ephesians 3:18-21
18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.


1) "...the power to comprehend;" "...the breadth and length and height and depth;" "..the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge;" "...filled with all the fullness;" "...abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine;"


2) Paul uses small words to describe (inasmuch as it can be) the vastness of the love of Christ "the breadth and length and height and depth... that surpasses knowledge... all the fullness of God."  How often do we get so focused on the little part that is right before us and part of our immediate experience, mistaking that little expression for the whole.  The WHOLE.  THE WHOLE.  And do we remember that it is God's power working in us that "is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask of imagine"? or do we get caught up once again on our own limitation?  our own egos? our own way of thinking?  thinking it is us accomplishing, or trying to accomplish what cannot be done?  What does "comprehend" mean?  It strikes me as an act of the intellect, but that would not be consistent with this context.  "Comprehension" is more comprehensive that an intellectual act.  It is experiential, maybe prior to understanding.  Comprehension maybe brushes against the cloud of "unknowing," "that surpasses knowledge."


3) What is the invitation in all this?  To do what I can and let go of the rest.  To let God accomplish more than I can (or want to) accomplish.


"Holy one, help me let go of knowledge and comprehend the vastness of your love that surpasses knowledge."


Breathprayer: "Love... Surpasses Knowledge."



1 comment:

  1. And you know, Rev David, about the blessing of being grounded in Love more than many. Blessings on your travels and peace for Grand'ma.

    ReplyDelete