Ephesians 1:11-23
11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you…
The congregation I serve is in the midst of a season of death. Every congregation goes through times like these, when funerals come quickly on each other’s heels. We’ve had an expected death, the tragic death of a young adult, an unexpected death, and a gentle death at the end of a long and healthy life. Each of these situations is unique and each one is an opportunity to bear witness to the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection.
St. Paul prays for us to “perceive what is the hope to which [Jesus] has called you”. That prayer defines the mission of the Church – to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ Jesus. During times like this, when our congregation is staring into the face of death, that grounding in the Good News is our lifeline. Our certainty that, because Jesus lives, we will live with Him forever, not only sustains us, but empowers us and fills us with peace, every time we stand in front of an open grace commending a sister or brother to God. It is the hope in which we live, the reality into which we die, and the gateway into eternity.
Prayer: Lord Jesus: On this All Saints Day, we pour out our gratitude for the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection. AMEN