I’m often asked in retirement what I miss most about full-time parish ministry. It surprises many people that I say teaching confirmation classes. I treasured that opportunity to work with young people at a significant time in their spiritual growth and development. I’m amazed how much I still remember from my own confirmation classes some 65 years ago.
I especially remember our pastor saying that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Many years later I learned that this gem is attributed to early-church theologian and bishop St. Augustine.
Our reading today makes it clear that, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Gentiles (that is, non-Jewish people) have become fellow heirs and members of the same body as early Jewish converts to Christianity.
In this letter to the young Christian community in Ephesus, this previously hidden plan of salvation is to be made known to all people. This message of grace, the news of the boundless love of Christ, is for everyone.
In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit… (verse 5) —