Proper 11 (CL)

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I think I could very easily take verse 17 and tell you all about how you should love one another. If you have faith in Jesus Christ you would be grounded in Love for your neighbor. You would not judge your neighbor nor condemn your neighbor for his actions, but love and tolerate him, even accept him for who he desires to be. But sadly or gladly verse 17 does not stand apart from verses 18 and 19.

We should love our neighbors. But it takes a lot of strength to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of Love. It is important to know the Love of Christ. He did not come to condemn the world but put a lot of people in their place. He did not come to destroy, kill, slay, or damn you, but he still does not tolerate nor accept you and your desires for yourself.

To know the Love of God is to know the Love of Christ. Christ has shown his Love by his sacrifice. It is God who grounds you not in your acts of love, but in his act of Love. It is God who likewise fills you with the fulfillment of his command. Jesus Christ has come to claim you, in spite of your lack for love and all your wickedness. Jesus Christ has died for your sins. He forgives you all of your sins, and as you continue to hear his Word, He continues to fill you with the fullness of God.