Paul is writing about his own, personal, place in God’s big plan. He was called to be an apostle. We all know the story: how he initially persecuted Christians as betrayers of the Jewish faith, but encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and was there commissioned to be a witness to him. Paul tells the story like this in Acts 26: So from the very time of his Damascus-road experience Paul has known that his task is to take the good news of God’s love to the Gentiles. This is the mystery on which we touched when looking at chapter one on the Feast of the Epiphany, when we also had in mind the coming of Gentile magi to see the baby Jesus; and this we have in mind today on the Feast of the Presentation, when we recall how Simeon in temple spoke of Jesus as the light to lighten the Gentiles. Last week Rowena spoke about the Gentiles being adopted into God’s family. They were God’s possession that he wanted to redeem; or to use the language of tonight's Old Testament reading, his silver and gold that he wants to bring to his house to restore its splendour. Paul is writing with his multi-racial multi-cultural Ephesian church congregation in mind: they are Jews and Gentiles united in their faith in Christ, and united in their salvation.
In chapter 2 he used three images to emphasise this: saying

• - the two communities had become one
• - those were far apart had drawn together
• - the barrier between them had been broken down

In v6 of this chapter he concsiely uses three words, one after the other, which all begin in the same way to make the same point. Few English translations reflect the pattern evident in the Greek, because it sounds awkward in English. But Paul is saying that Jews & Gentiles are

• - co-heirs
• - co-members
• - co-sharers.

Or to clarify what he is getting at, we could amplify this as:

• - co-heirs of the inheritance of eternal life.
• - co-members of the body of Christ.
• - co-sharers in the hope of Christ.

Look at your neighbour in church: you and he/she are co-heirs, co-members, co-sharers. Whether you like the look of them or not, whether you have the same tastes in music or food, whether you have the same degree of education, whether you vote for the same political party - in God’s eternal plan these things are irrelevant, because we have one inheritance, we are members of one body, we share one hope.
This has been God’s plan from the beginning, and Paul’s was called to proclaim His plan to the nations. Paul’s task is reveal to the world what has been a hidden ‘mystery’. Not only to the nations but also to the ‘rulers and authorities’. By these words he seems to refer to spiritual powers - just as he does when he uses the same words in the context of spiritual warfare in chapter 6. As in chapter 1, Paul’s argument leads him into sharing his prayers with his readers. And as in that chapter, one of things for which he is praying is that they will understand his big picture of the purpose of God. In particular this time he mentions the love of Christ: its length breadth height and depth.
You may recall Sunday school songs on this theme: Or: But the prayer is not just about knowledge or understanding. This time he is praying that they might have the power of God in their lives, to strengthen their inner beings.
As Mark said two weeks ago, we are not saved by any good deeds of our own: but we are saved so that we can do good deeds for God. Loving those peculiar people who are our Christian brothers and sisters may take a good deal of strength. In the second half of his letter, Paul is going to focus on the way in which the Christians of Ephesus should live, and we shall see over the next few weeks that their calling is a demanding one. Paul says that in knowing that love, we will be filled with the fullness of God - true satisfaction comes from seeng the big picture, finding one’s calling within it, and then accomplishing that calling. Although apparently a prisoner, locked up because of faith and witness, Paul was content with his lot.
In 1965 the Rolling Stones had their first no 1 hit with “I can’t get no satisfaction” - an expression of frustration with life: with personal relationships and the commercialisation of the public sphere. Some say that modern man, even post-modern man, is on a constant but unsuccessful search for ‘fulfilment’. If Paul had the chance to write to the Rolling Stones, and to subsequent generations, as he wrote to the Ephesians, he would say the that true fulfilment is about being filled with the fullness of God. In the final verse of the chapter Paul again encourages the Ephesians, and us: he speaks of God’s power which This chapter is a turning point in the letter. In the first half, Paul has spoken about his own calling, and how that fits in with the purposes of God on the grand scale. In the second half, he has prayed for his readers that they might have the strength and understanding to fulfil their calling. May we also enjoy that understanding and strength from God, and find the satisfaction that comes only from him.