Reflections on St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians

(These are some reflections I wrote at the request of the leader of our local adoration chapel for our October Holy Hour of Reparation:)

Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4: 1-13

While Paul explains to us the workings of the Holy Spirit, he defines the Mystery of God, Who we see through the good fruits of each member of our faith. This calling is both universal and unique. Universal because all of us are called, and unique since we have different talents.

Paul gives us the example of our own inner workings, body and soul, so we might glimpse the Mystery of the one true God. We see how Paul uses his talent to teach by how he explains God.

When a concept is difficult to grasp a teacher will turn to the properties we may observe so we can understand. For example, in a science lab, the invisible properties of a gas are defined in comparison to a solid or a liquid. So Paul is defining what it is to be a member of the Church in the same manner--by comparing and contrasting. He uses a description we all can understand--humility, peace, love and gentleness--to define what God is, and wants of us. Paul then explains we are to reflect on the unity of God.

If we are to be classified as a Christian we must display the characteristics Paul speaks of in his letter. He includes the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope and love.

Paul gives a very good definition of God as being: “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” This defines what Catholics must believe because so many other religions only give a partial explanation of the Supernatural God. Paul tells us exactly what God is in this simple sentence.

All of us have learned early on that God is all-powerful, almighty, all-good, all-knowing, all-loving, and all the other characteristics that the Catechism goes on to explain. But Paul connects these to a deeper working of the Holy Spirit, Who is inside us. In this manner, we can truly say we are made in the image and likeness of God. We possess our own will and intellect because God designed us to serve him. How do we serve Him?

Paul goes on to define that we all possess different gifts or talents. He states we are expected to build up the body of Christ by using them. We are not supposed to be lazy, we are supposed to work for the Kingdom Jesus revealed to us.

The challenge for us is to understand what God is calling us to do. When we try to figure that out, we need to be aware of what the Spirit is saying to us.

How the Holy Spirit communicates is by affirmation. How? Well, we all know our own strengths and weaknesses. For example, some of us are good at teaching, others have a gift of being good at preaching. And we've all experienced those uncanny affirmations when several people say the same thing to us. Some people may have prayed for and received more supernatural gifts, like healing. Yet all of these work to spread The Gospel.

We need the gift of courage to be true disciples. It is a tough assignment, but one in which God prepares us if we ask Him for His grace. Each time we use our talents to improve our spiritual life or encourage others is pleasing to God.

As Paul wrote this letter from prison, he was using the gift he possessed which was writing. He could not feed the hungry or clothe the naked. But God used him where he was. We too must follow Paul's example and use our present circumstances to build up our Church.