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The hymn in Ephesians 1 makes it clear: God ‘chose us in him before the foundation of the world.’
Yesterday's Second Reading, Ephesians 1:3-14, deserves some attention, particularly for its pro-life relevance.
The text is actually a hymn that may have preexisted St. Paul’s epistle and which he incorporated into it. Priests and others familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours know this text because it regularly appears among the hymns in Evening Prayer.
But how is it a pro-life text?
This hymn is a celebration of creation. It’s not a celebration of the kind in vogue today, e.g., a paean to “Gaia” or “Mother Nature.” No, it is a celebration of the doctrine of creation, that what exists comes from the hand of God, is intended by God, and is good. Judaism and Christianity — in contrast to the religions of Antiquity — recognize that God is Creator and Redeemer, celebrating him both for the work of creation and his concrete deeds in salvation history. If you want proof, read Psalm 136. It first (vv. 4-9) celebrates God’s work in creation, enumerating particular acts because “his love endures forever.” Then, with the same refrain, it details (vv. 10-22) God’s works in forging a people for himself, starting with the Exodus. It concludes with God’s care for the individual person praying the Psalm (vv. 23-26).
Now, the Ephesians hymn is very Christocentric. Creation isn’t just a “nice thing” God decided to do before declaring “it was good.” No, God created to bring us into relationship with him, so that, when creation reaches its perfection, it will be when all things are “summed up in Christ.” The centerpiece of creation is the person.
That person-centric focus of creation is vital because it is a radical corrective to today’s mindset. Creation does not exist so that it can have an optimal temperature not exacerbated by carbon emissions. Creation does not exist for a pristine planet of fungi, babbling brooks, and a few cavemen human beings whose “carbon footprint” has been mitigated by an attempted return to the Stone Age. Creation exists for persons … and that is just what Ephesians 1 says.
Continued below.
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Yesterday's Second Reading, Ephesians 1:3-14, deserves some attention, particularly for its pro-life relevance.
The text is actually a hymn that may have preexisted St. Paul’s epistle and which he incorporated into it. Priests and others familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours know this text because it regularly appears among the hymns in Evening Prayer.
But how is it a pro-life text?
This hymn is a celebration of creation. It’s not a celebration of the kind in vogue today, e.g., a paean to “Gaia” or “Mother Nature.” No, it is a celebration of the doctrine of creation, that what exists comes from the hand of God, is intended by God, and is good. Judaism and Christianity — in contrast to the religions of Antiquity — recognize that God is Creator and Redeemer, celebrating him both for the work of creation and his concrete deeds in salvation history. If you want proof, read Psalm 136. It first (vv. 4-9) celebrates God’s work in creation, enumerating particular acts because “his love endures forever.” Then, with the same refrain, it details (vv. 10-22) God’s works in forging a people for himself, starting with the Exodus. It concludes with God’s care for the individual person praying the Psalm (vv. 23-26).
Now, the Ephesians hymn is very Christocentric. Creation isn’t just a “nice thing” God decided to do before declaring “it was good.” No, God created to bring us into relationship with him, so that, when creation reaches its perfection, it will be when all things are “summed up in Christ.” The centerpiece of creation is the person.
That person-centric focus of creation is vital because it is a radical corrective to today’s mindset. Creation does not exist so that it can have an optimal temperature not exacerbated by carbon emissions. Creation does not exist for a pristine planet of fungi, babbling brooks, and a few cavemen human beings whose “carbon footprint” has been mitigated by an attempted return to the Stone Age. Creation exists for persons … and that is just what Ephesians 1 says.
Continued below.
There’s a Pro-Life Primer Hidden in This Bible Passage
The hymn in Ephesians 1 makes it clear: God ‘chose us in him before the foundation of the world.’
