We Exist For His Praise…and Yet!
July 10, 2024
Fr. John Riccardo
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:3-14
The celebration of Mass has a “pace” to it. I once read it described as “ritualized play,” meaning that it is not a time so much for personal devotion as it is for communal worship – a worship for which God Himself has given us the instructions. Accordingly, one of the challenges of Mass can be that there isn’t proper time to adequately reflect on the Word of God as it is proclaimed. A mentor of mine, speaking about this challenge, observed that one of the many fruits of Eucharistic adoration is having the time, in the presence of Jesus, to go back to those passages from the previous Sunday that we would like to linger with. This observation comes to mind as we feast on what Paul offers us in these initial verses of Ephesians. We could spend many days chewing on this meaty passage in prayer. For my part, three things in particular strike me as I pray with this passage.
First, Paul reminds us that we “exist for the praise of His glory.” I don’t know about you, but that’s not how I think most people live, including most Christians. Don’t, in fact, many of us tend to think, act and even pray as though God exists for us? Paul reminds us elsewhere that all things were made through Him and for Him (cf. Col 1:16). Do I revolve around God or does God revolve around me? Am I serious about wanting everything to be done for His glory and honor and praise, or do I treat God more like a genie who is supposed to grant my wishes? This might sound a bit childish, but I for one tragically often have a childish (as opposed to childlike) faith. Perhaps some of us are being invited to linger this week with this phrase of Paul, and to seriously consider if we are striving to exist for God and the praise of His glory.
Second, Paul tell us that we have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” I love to read and over many years now have acquired a rather decent library. I often lend books out to friends but when I first started doing this I realized that some of the books weren’t being returned. I don’t think there was anything malicious on the part of anyone, rather, I think they might have forgotten who gave the book. So, I had a seal made. The seal embosses onto the front page of the book “Ex libris Fr. John Riccardo” (i.e., this isn’t yours, please return it!). Seals, then, denote ownership. Much like a person stamps a book to show it belongs to him, God “stamps” us in baptism. Now, lest this be misunderstood, belonging to God leads to freedom, not slavery. He’s a good Father, not a tyrant. We were slaves before this happened – slaves to the power of Sin and Death. God redeemed, or rescued, us from this slavery through the blood of His Son. As Scott Hahn observes, “Paul paints a black-or-white picture of the human situation: either one lives in service to sin and remains in spiritual bondage, or one lives in obedience to God and enjoys liberation from sin’s captivity. It is a stark either-or: no fence-sitting, no third option.” Perhaps it might be worth lingering with the image of having been sealed in baptism this week, waking up each day and seeing with spiritual eyes God’s embossing on our hearts, minds, senses, and bodies: “This person belongs to God almighty.”
Third, and finally, Paul tells us that the Spirit within us is a first installment, a downpayment. If you go to the car dealership, find a car you want, and give the owner $5,000 down, what does that mean? It means, “I’ll be back!” This is what God has done in us by giving us the Spirit. He’s “put money down,” telling us that the good work He has begun in us He will bring to completion. He won’t forget about us, abandon us, or ignore us.
Here’s the amazing reality: even though we exist for the praise of His glory, even though all things were made through Him and for Him, even though He is God and we are dust, He has become one of us and laid down His life for us to rescue us from foes we could never defeat. What kind of God is this?! And what is the reasonable, intelligent, and loving response to this kind of love?
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
July 2024
For the many leaders across the country who attended the Leadership Immersives on the ACTS XXIX campus in June, that seeds sown may flourish in their respective Dioceses, parishes, and seminaries.
For Father John, the ACTS XXIX team, and all those attending the Grand Getaway on Mackinac Island, that God's people would be inspired to be mobilized for the mission God has entrusted to them.
For the ACTS XXIX family, that their break from ministry in the first part of July will be a source of refreshment for them and their families.
For the ACTS XXIX Board of Directors, Episcopal Advisory Council, benefactors and prayer partners. May the Lord richly bless them for their leadership and support.
For God’s protection upon the ACTX XXIX team.