Journey of Reconciliation

December 22, 2015 Year C

Ephesians 2:11-22

Today is the first day of winter. The Winter Solstice is a time when people focus on the change of the season. We move from the longest night to the begin the journey to the longest day. It is a journey from darkness to light. The Bible acknowledges this dimension salvation – we move from darkness to light when we come to Christ. But we also come together. We go from a separated people (Jews and Gentiles) to one people – Christians.

Paul uses the word Gentiles to describe the people who have been excluded from salvation with God. Other words he described for these people are:

Gentiles in the flesh (Ephesians 2:11)

uncircumcised in the flesh (Ephesians 2:11)

Excluded from the citizenship of Israel (Ephesians 2:12)

Foreigners (Ephesians 2:12)

Far away (Ephesians 2:13)

Then Paul shows us that instead of making Gentiles people who follow Jewish ways like the commands and regulations of the law (Ephesians 2:15), God created one out of two.

He tore the division between Jews and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). Two people become one person – which creates peace. God reconciles us through the cross (Ephesians 2:16).

God doesn’t just want us to go on a journey from darkness to light. God wants to take us on a journey of reconciliation, on a journey to unity. He wants us in the church to set aside our differences and come together.

We are all part of God’s household or family (Ephesians 2:19). We are part of the same house (Ephesians 2:20-21). We are part of the same spiritual sanctuary (Ephesians 2:22).

We are all on a journey of reconciliation – a journey that takes us a lifetime.

Prayer: God, help me bring more unity together with others, not division. Please be with me on this journey of reconciliation.