Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Lent: A Time of Reconciliation
Santhosh George
St. John's MTC, NY
22 in whom you also are
built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Christians are all too familiar with reconciliation! The Father sends His one and only son to earth to reconcile our sins. As Christians we are all spoiled with this idea when it comes to our relationship with our creator. It is free for us and all we have to do is to accept the Son. But how do we practice reconciliation with our brothers and sisters? It seems that it doesn’t come easy for many of us. Are we only expected to receive the greatest gift and not practice it in our lives?
When I watch my two daughters (7-years, 4-years) reconcile after an argument, I see how easy it is for them to reconcile with each other. Before we even finish talking to them, they are back in their world as if nothing ever happened. There are no grudges or memory of what had happened just a few minutes ago. This is one of the reasons Jesus says, “it is such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”.
Paul talks about the new humanity that is made up of both Gentiles and Jews through Christ. Paul urges the early Church that there shouldn’t be any hostility among them. Since this was true for the early church, it is certainly true for the 21st century Church. As a community of believers, there shouldn’t be any dividing walls among us.
The challenge before us is NOT how to accomplish world peace; rather, as a person who is reconciled with God through his Son, how do I accomplish peace with my fellow brother or sister. It is a difficult task since we do not know if the other person will accept our sincere apology. But, as members of the household of God, it is our responsibility to take the initiative in resolving any argument. When this is practiced at the individual level, the rest will follow in it’s place. Imagine each member of a family/Church practicing this on a regular basis!
As we observe Lent, let us not only lose the things that block our view of the Savior, but also gain people who are lost from our lives.
Christians are all too familiar with reconciliation! The Father sends His one and only son to earth to reconcile our sins. As Christians we are all spoiled with this idea when it comes to our relationship with our creator. It is free for us and all we have to do is to accept the Son. But how do we practice reconciliation with our brothers and sisters? It seems that it doesn’t come easy for many of us. Are we only expected to receive the greatest gift and not practice it in our lives?
When I watch my two daughters (7-years, 4-years) reconcile after an argument, I see how easy it is for them to reconcile with each other. Before we even finish talking to them, they are back in their world as if nothing ever happened. There are no grudges or memory of what had happened just a few minutes ago. This is one of the reasons Jesus says, “it is such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”.
Paul talks about the new humanity that is made up of both Gentiles and Jews through Christ. Paul urges the early Church that there shouldn’t be any hostility among them. Since this was true for the early church, it is certainly true for the 21st century Church. As a community of believers, there shouldn’t be any dividing walls among us.
The challenge before us is NOT how to accomplish world peace; rather, as a person who is reconciled with God through his Son, how do I accomplish peace with my fellow brother or sister. It is a difficult task since we do not know if the other person will accept our sincere apology. But, as members of the household of God, it is our responsibility to take the initiative in resolving any argument. When this is practiced at the individual level, the rest will follow in it’s place. Imagine each member of a family/Church practicing this on a regular basis!
As we observe Lent, let us not only lose the things that block our view of the Savior, but also gain people who are lost from our lives.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, give me
the humility and the strength to reach out to one person whom I have fought
with. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
If I am a true dwelling place for God, there shouldn’t be any room for hostility towards my brother or sister. I must reach out to ONE person today and make peace.
If I am a true dwelling place for God, there shouldn’t be any room for hostility towards my brother or sister. I must reach out to ONE person today and make peace.