Jesus’ Power in Us: 22 November, 2020
In his fourth-century sermon on the LORD’s Table (#272), St. Augustine famously proclaimed, “Be what you can see, receive what you are. If you are his body and members of him, then you will find set on the LORD’s Table your own mystery.” You have been taken. You have been blessed. You have been broken. And now, you have been given. Be the body of Christ to the body of Christ, to the least of these. –– Neal D. Presa
Matthew 25:31-46
In this third and final parable, we find the common rhythm and pattern of the previous two (ten bridesmaids and talents), namely the use of the final Parousia of the Son of Man to demonstrate what demeanor of life is expected not only between now and when the final appearing of Christ occurs, but more so, how the constant, continual appearance of Christ in our midst today causes us to respond (or not) in our daily lives.
Do we detect the presence of the bridegroom in the everyday, and therefore, welcome him in our presence? Do we seize God’s good gifts to us and invest them for eternal significance for those around us?
This third parable uses the final judgment of separation to highlight works of compassion done to those who are members of the household of God. Note that the bridegroom and the master are both harsh with those who are near and dear to them—greater judgment for those within the household than for those without. The parable identifies the hungry, naked, thirsty, and imprisoned as the “least of those who are members of my family. . . ” –– Neal D. Presa
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
The prophet speaks words from YHWH. God will act. God will be involved. God will act to restore the sheep—the people to their own home. After the in-gathering, God will provide a new leader—a new shepherd, David. YHWH, through the voice of Ezekiel, promises a different kind of leader than before. David will be a good and honest leader, not like the leaders of before. –– Eric T. Meyers
Ephesians 1:15-23
The writer of Ephesians prays that the church may come to know [the] immeasurable greatness of God’s power in Christ available to us.
Most of the time, we don’t go around at school or at work or at home claiming that we have any kind of power. When we do want to gain power in certain situations, it’s not the power of God at work in us, it’s the sin of pride as we manipulate others to get what we want. Still, many times we are overwhelmed with the feeling that we are really powerless in the world today. The power being talked about in Ephesians is not worldly power by any means. This is not the kind of power that sends us to war, or suppresses others to build up ourselves. We are talking about King Jesus power—that makes us more than we are.
This is the kind of power we need in our lives—the power of the risen Christ in our worship and daily living—the power to change us and move us to be God’s people in the world. –– Kelly Lyn Logue
Kelly Lyn Logue is pastor of Benson Memorial United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Eric T. Meyers, a former church musician, is pastor of Frederick Presbyterian Church in Frederick, Maryland, and adjunct professor of worship at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Neal D. Presa, pastor of the Village Presbyterian Church, Rancho Santa Fe, California, and adjunct professor of worship at Fuller Theological Seminary, was the Moderator of the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).
Homily Service 41, no. 4 (2008): 139-147.