25 November 2010
Psalm 131, 132; Zech 13.1-9; Eph 1.15-23; Luke 19.11-27

The first sentence of this reading inspired a song that begins with the words, “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” The imagery may seem grotesque but it remains true and it is important for us to remember that our only hope is indeed the blood of Jesus. If it is not poured out for us we have no hope in heaven or on earth, we perish in our sins. Zechariah sees that not all will be saved and yet there will be a renewed worship and devotion to the Lord who has saved us. What is our response this day to grace?

What do we do with the trust we have received from the Lord? The historical background for the parable was the visit of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, to Rome to secure permission to reign as a so-called client king, i.e., over a territory actually subject to Rome. That reign was opposed by some who were under his rule. The parable speaks of what it means to be a steward and it haunts me that we in the west have failed in our stewardship of the gifts we have been given. Have we squandered our trust? We have been given the Word written, the Holy Spirit, the greatest message ever told, and the freedom and resources with which to proclaim it and yet we are wasting our time on other pursuits than mission. Do we need to repent of what we have made of the Gospel and the church?

Paul moves from praise and thanksgiving to the Lord to praise and thanksgiving for the Ephesians about whose faith he has heard. His prayer has content as well as thanks, he prays for them that they would receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation in Him that they would know true hope, the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints, the immeasurable greatness of his power toward those who believe. He wants them to know what he knows and to rejoice in that knowledge and walk in that understanding and live in that hope. Can we want more for anyone than this? Several years ago a little book was written and became wildly popular based on a prayer that the author argued was a kingdom building prayer. That prayer wasn’t bad but it was self-centered at its heart. This prayer is the prayer we should pray for God to build His kingdom. There is nothing remotely self-centered or self-seeking in this prayer for others. Why not pray this for those you know and love today?

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.