Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Sometimes it's too easy to dwell on the frustrations we feel "in the now." The shortening, darkening days of autumn and a turbulent, stressful election season are not the best ingredients for a joyful heart. It can be difficult to find blessings amid our burdens or consolations amid concerns about our family, friends, and future. In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us of who we really are. We are sons and daughters of God! We have “every spiritual blessing in the heavens” at our disposal, all because of Jesus and his redeeming love for us. Our identity is rooted in Jesus Christ. Other things will come and go – jobs, possessions, politics – but Jesus is our center.
How do you keep Jesus as the steady center of a busy life? Who in your family, friends, and community is an anchor of faith for you? What signs of hope can you thank God for today?
—Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation at St. Paul Parish, Combined Locks, WI, in the Diocese of Green Bay.
Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
God, who bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens!
—Ephesians 1: 3