The Epistle on Sunday continues our reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians (3:14-21) wherein St Paul describes his prayer for those Ephesians whom he addresses in his letter. He prays that they may, with the rest of the church, grow in understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ.

God’s plan of salvation I have mentioned before as a major subject of the letter.

The plan, St Paul asserts, affects the entire universe with the “breadth and length and height and depth” (3:18) of God’s love in Christ or possibly the universe in each of its dimensions. He prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and thus be totally immersed in the fullness of God. St Paul ends the prayer with a doxology to God: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (3:21).

Also, I want to let you know that for the next five Sundays we shall leave the proclamation of Saint Mark’s Gospel for proclamations of Saint John 6 that include two important miracles (or signs) and discourses that elaborate especially the multiplication of the loaves. The other miracle is Jesus’ walking on the water. We return to Saint Mark on the first Sunday in September.