Growing up?But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ... Ephesians 4:15 What do you want to be when you grow up? Many of us had to answer that question when we were kids. Astronaut… firefighter… doctor… teacher… Paul writing to the church in Ephesus encourages them (and us) to grow up into the full stature of Christ, who is their head. Further, he says that this growing up is to happen by the body building itself up in love. That we are no longer to be children tossed to and fro by different ideologies or doctrines. So just exactly how are we supposed to do that? In part by a reliance on the gift of God's Holy Spirit that he has put in us to help us discern what is true, what is right, what is holy. We are also to do this discerning within the community. This requires humility, patience, kindness, and gentleness and love (sounds a lot like Jesus). Wouldn't it'd be lovely if the next time you asked a child what they wanted to be when they grew up that they said: just like Jesus... I want to be just like Jesus. No matter how old we are, we too can answer in the same way: we want to grow up to be like Jesus. Blessings,
Matthew+ Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP p.232) | 
