God’s Amazing Work

A Reflection on the Second Reading for May 29th, 2022:
​The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

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Ephesians
1.17-23

Brothers and sisters, I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 

And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Fact: God’s power is immeasurable. 


Also fact: human power is finite. 


Yes, there are many powerful people in the world. There are those who use their power for good and, unfortunately, those who use their power for evil. These acts of power can be world changing or life changing, impacting a community or an individual. Regardless, human power has limits. 


Recently I learned the limits of my own power. In early January I had surgery. Unanticipated. I was told my recovery period would be six to eight weeks. This was my first ever surgery so I asked my surgeon what she meant by recovery period. She told me I would be off work and could do very little physical activity. Huh. I wasn't sure I could do that. I don’t sit still very well.  Sure I can sit on my couch for a lazy Sunday afternoon or lie on a beach for a few hours on a warm summer day — but several weeks of doing very little? How was I going to survive that? For the first time, in a long time, I felt powerless. 


Before I left the hospital, the discharge nurse gave me my post-surgery instructions. During the conversation she paused, looked at me, and said, “Few women, and men for that matter, are given permission to do nothing for six to eight weeks. Enjoy the break.” I wasn’t convinced. However, as the initial soreness and weariness of surgery wore away, I began to lean into my recovery time. “Be still and know that I am God” became my mantra. I journaled. I prayed. I rested. In the process, I developed a greater understanding, knowledge and appreciation of how my body works. I remember looking at my incision site and being in total awe at how a huge cut had healed closed. I gained a new and overwhelming sense of gratitude for how I am created and for the One who created me. God does amazing work!


As my body healed, I simply sat with myself and with our God. I was living Saint Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians. I was allowing God to reveal His power to me in my powerlessness. I opened my heart to receive what He wanted me to know about Him and, in turn, began to recognize the times that God did amazing work through those around me… and through me!


Saint Paul’s prayer is for the community in Ephesus, but it is also for us: a prayer that we can recognize God’s power working in our past, our present and our future. So, dear reader, I pray, with expectation and not hesitation, that we can all lean into that power when we’re feeling powerless. May we truly know the greatness of our God and the greatness to which He calls each and everyone of us — because God does amazing work.




​Aurea Sadi

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