I have been part of planning groups that design future additions to a school. The leaders often begin with “wish lists.” They ask us to forget about practicalities, and let our brains spin out visions for the future. And, so we make a preposterous list of all the things we would like to have—a swimming pool, a new football field, new music equipment, a new art studio, and so on. Later when practical considerations enter the picture, the wish list is trimmed down to reasonable size.
In today’s reading from Ephesians (3:14-21) we find St. Paul kneeling in prayer and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he presents a preposterous wish list to God—for that people and for Christians of all time. Listen to his wish list:
- (T)hat he may grant you…to be strengthened with power through his Holy Spirit in the inner self.
- (T)hat Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
- (T)hat you may be rooted and grounded in love.
- (That) you may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth.
- (That you may) know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
- (T)hat you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Wow! What a wish list! And it is Paul’s wish list for you and me. This is not a generic list for the “Church” but for each of us who believe in Jesus Christ.
Then we start getting realistic, just the way the school planning committee eventually does when financial resources are brought into the mix. We think, surely it’s not possible that all six of these wishes could be granted by God. Then we read a little further. We are not dealing in a world of limited resources; we are dealing with an all-powerful God. Listen to what Paul says:
“Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
God can and wants to do everything that Paul lists and more. He can accomplish even more than “all” Paul asked or even imagined. And this blessing extends to “all generations” (That’s us!) forever. There is no expiration date on God’s gifts.
How overwhelming this is! God is working right now to answer every detail on Paul’s wish list and even more. This is not just an exercise of Paul’s wild imagination—it is the Word of God!
Maybe we need to sit down with Paul today and begin a planning session for our futures. Maybe we need to listen to Paul stirring us to think big. What if we took seriously the Word that God is speaking to us through Paul’s prayer, and became fully open to these blessings in our lives? What would the Church look like if every member let the fullness of God take over his or her life?
The Church today has the potential of being on fire with the indwelling of God. When this fire comes alive it will spread across the earth. Jesus tells us (Luke 12:49-53):
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”
Where does this fire begin? In our pastors, parish councils, or church programs? No! It begins in me and in you. We are God’s “matches” called to set the earth on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit. It all starts by agreeing to let the blessings of Paul’s wish list become a reality in our hearts.
“I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Philippians 3:8-9).
