Destined for Adoption

This meditation is based on a passage for May 12, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Ephesians 1:1-10

Reflection and Question: After a heartfelt greeting, Paul lays out a quick, deep summary of his message: that God adopts us as children through Christ, God’s natural son. This is a theme that he also develops in both Romans and Galatians. The 1962 translators of the Heidelberg Catechism used “accepted” rather than “adopted” in Question 33 and thereby lost the rich Pauline reference imbedded in the original version of the answer. This is one of the reasons the PCUSA is on course to fix the present translation. What difference do you see between “accepted” and “adopted?”

Prayer: Blessed Jesus, through You we have redemption and forgiveness of our sins. Through You, God, whom You call Father, gathers up all things, including us, adopting us, calling us, “Children!” Wow. Accept our thanks and praise. Amen.