Photo by Dmitry Zvolskiy on Pexels.com

Ephesians 4:4-6 (JDV)

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Breath – like you were invited to one hope at your invitation –

Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

our invitation and our hope

Paul is emphasizing unity here, and that is why I opt for the more literal gloss “Breath” describing the third person of the divine trinity. He is the breath to the church, and the two go together to form a living being. We care for others within the body because we all have the same care that God has toward all of us.

Of course, as flawed human beings, none of us do this perfectly. That is why Paul talks about our invitation and our hope. We have been invited to a future in which we will demonstrate God’s care perfectly. We have a hope that all our shortcomings will be corrected, and we will be as like God as he intends us to be. Until then, we live in the challenge to be what we will be –as nearly as we can.

This is us, Lord, responding to your invitation. Make us what you intend us to be.