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SERMON for JANUARY 3, 2021
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BLESSINGS
Text: John 1: 10-18; Ephesians 1: 3-14
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…” Ephesians 1: 3
At the beginning of a new calendar year, it is a good time to reflect on blessings received and blessings given. In the year 2020, for many people who lost loved ones to the coronavirus and to other causes of death, or who lost employment and educational opportunities, it could be challenging to identify many or any blessings. The majority consider the past year as the most challenging one that any of us have ever experienced. All sorts of plans had to be cancelled or put on hold indefinitely. Many hopes and dreams were far from being reached, and important life events could not be celebrated as we anticipated. Nevertheless, as God’s people, we are still called to bless one another with every spiritual blessing in Christ we have received.
Many spiritual traditions encourage taking time to reflect at the end of the day. Research indicates that people can significantly improve their mood and mental health by recalling three things for which they are grateful at the end of each day. There are many gratitude journals on the market to encourage this mindful discipline. In the Jesuit traditions, there is a spiritual practice called the daily examen in which people are encouraged to recall “openings and blocks” – openings: times in which we have been open to the Holy Spirit working in and through us – and blocks: times when we have blocked the Holy Spirit from working in and through us. Similarly, let me suggest that we reflect prayerfully on “blessings and blocks.” That is, in addition to recalling and rejoicing in the spiritual blessings we have received, let us reflect on the spiritual blessings given daily to others. Conversely, if we have deliberately withheld or unintentionally blocked spiritual blessings from others, then we need to confess that before our Maker and commit to behaving differently.
The passage from Ephesians speaks of our spiritual blessings as an inheritance in Christ that we have already received from God. In Christ, we have received the blessing of eternal life that is to come. Thus, we can live more fully as God’s people with the assurance that our salvation – our future – our hope for eternal life - is already secure.
It is kind of like imagining that we have inherited enormous wealth – and thus we need not worry about the future or running through our inheritance because there will always be more than enough financial resources for us. From a faith perspective, there will always be more than enough spiritual blessings for us – and more than enough to share with others. The more we bless others spiritually, the greater are our spiritual blessings. God restores and replenishes spiritual blessings – many times over, again and again – whenever we share them with others.
A word of caution – though. Whenever we offer a gift to another, there is the potential for the gift to be rejected. Some believers, in their zeal to share the truth of the Gospel, make the mistake of trying to bestow spiritual blessings with an approach that is devoid of grace. It comes across quite aggressively and is fraught with mixed motivations. Think about it: if a stranger showed up and demanded that you accept an inheritance that you did not know anything about, wouldn’t you have some questions and reservations about accepting such an unexpected gift even if you would benefit from it? The passage from John links grace with truth. It is important to remember that Jesus never teaches us to judge and shame people for not accepting blessings shared. Accepting rejection with grace is as important as conveying God’s blessings with grace.
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” [John 1: 14] In Jesus Christ, we have already received God’s greatest spiritual blessing - the gift of God incarnate, full of grace and truth.
We come to the Lord’s Supper today to remember and to partake of every spiritual blessing we have received in Jesus Christ. May this holy meal strengthen you for the joyful privilege of sharing the Lord’s blessings with others with grace and truth, for the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Text: John 1: 10-18; Ephesians 1: 3-14
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…” Ephesians 1: 3
At the beginning of a new calendar year, it is a good time to reflect on blessings received and blessings given. In the year 2020, for many people who lost loved ones to the coronavirus and to other causes of death, or who lost employment and educational opportunities, it could be challenging to identify many or any blessings. The majority consider the past year as the most challenging one that any of us have ever experienced. All sorts of plans had to be cancelled or put on hold indefinitely. Many hopes and dreams were far from being reached, and important life events could not be celebrated as we anticipated. Nevertheless, as God’s people, we are still called to bless one another with every spiritual blessing in Christ we have received.
Many spiritual traditions encourage taking time to reflect at the end of the day. Research indicates that people can significantly improve their mood and mental health by recalling three things for which they are grateful at the end of each day. There are many gratitude journals on the market to encourage this mindful discipline. In the Jesuit traditions, there is a spiritual practice called the daily examen in which people are encouraged to recall “openings and blocks” – openings: times in which we have been open to the Holy Spirit working in and through us – and blocks: times when we have blocked the Holy Spirit from working in and through us. Similarly, let me suggest that we reflect prayerfully on “blessings and blocks.” That is, in addition to recalling and rejoicing in the spiritual blessings we have received, let us reflect on the spiritual blessings given daily to others. Conversely, if we have deliberately withheld or unintentionally blocked spiritual blessings from others, then we need to confess that before our Maker and commit to behaving differently.
The passage from Ephesians speaks of our spiritual blessings as an inheritance in Christ that we have already received from God. In Christ, we have received the blessing of eternal life that is to come. Thus, we can live more fully as God’s people with the assurance that our salvation – our future – our hope for eternal life - is already secure.
It is kind of like imagining that we have inherited enormous wealth – and thus we need not worry about the future or running through our inheritance because there will always be more than enough financial resources for us. From a faith perspective, there will always be more than enough spiritual blessings for us – and more than enough to share with others. The more we bless others spiritually, the greater are our spiritual blessings. God restores and replenishes spiritual blessings – many times over, again and again – whenever we share them with others.
A word of caution – though. Whenever we offer a gift to another, there is the potential for the gift to be rejected. Some believers, in their zeal to share the truth of the Gospel, make the mistake of trying to bestow spiritual blessings with an approach that is devoid of grace. It comes across quite aggressively and is fraught with mixed motivations. Think about it: if a stranger showed up and demanded that you accept an inheritance that you did not know anything about, wouldn’t you have some questions and reservations about accepting such an unexpected gift even if you would benefit from it? The passage from John links grace with truth. It is important to remember that Jesus never teaches us to judge and shame people for not accepting blessings shared. Accepting rejection with grace is as important as conveying God’s blessings with grace.
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” [John 1: 14] In Jesus Christ, we have already received God’s greatest spiritual blessing - the gift of God incarnate, full of grace and truth.
We come to the Lord’s Supper today to remember and to partake of every spiritual blessing we have received in Jesus Christ. May this holy meal strengthen you for the joyful privilege of sharing the Lord’s blessings with others with grace and truth, for the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.