e-vo for week of July 15

Dearest e-votees-

One of the compelling names that is attached to Jesus is "Prince of Peace" (see Isaiah 9:6-7). We live in a war-torn world. Often our churches bear the marks of deep conflict as well. What might it look like if we were really to live into the words of our appointed Ephesians text below?

Peace,
Karl

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So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Ephesians 2:11-22, NRSV

People often sort themselves out into those who are "in" and those who are "out". We see this in children's literature with the star-bellied sneetches and the plain-belly sneetches (of Dr. Suess' The Sneetches and Other Stories). We see this at work and home, school and church. We see this in our Ephesians text with the Gentiles and the Jews (the "uncircumcision" and the "circumcision"). How many different ways can we find to separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters who are also made in the image of God?

The truth is that we have had marked separation between ourselves and God. As an entire race we have had separation which we talk of as humanity's fall into sin. Personally we have had separation since birth which can be heightened every day by our own failings and wanderings and sins. Some things we blunder about and do ignorantly. Many are also much more of our choosing. All can lead to separation.

This separation between people and God was dramatically portrayed in the Temple in Jerusalem. It hung as a curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. It was thought that God's presence was most powerfully manifest behind the curtain. Only one priest would enter that most holy place and only once a year and only after the correct blessings and cleansings had occured. Getting too close to God was thought to be a powerful and dangerous thing.

When Jesus died on the cross that curtain was torn top to bottom (see Mark 15:38). We were granted access to God (or God came out into the world in a much more tangible form). Jesus broke down "the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us". We are made right with God which calls us to then work on making right between us and our brothers and sisters.

The term "outsiders" (or "aliens" or "strangers" or "foreigners") is being stricken from our vocabularies by God. All are undeserving (including us). All are made in God's image (including us). All are welcome (including us). We are called on to practice "hospitality" (see Hebrews 13:2) which is literally "love of strangers". While this can certainly take on traditional forms of hospitality we are called to--in ever deepening ways--love those who once were strangers and aliens and foreigners and outsiders. How might God grow us in that spiritual practice today?

God is building us "together spiritually into a dwelling place for God" this very day. How very deep and powerful and profound is that?


God, use us this day to reach out to the other kinds of sneetches. Help us strive to love the strangers we encounter (who all bear your image). Help us practice radical and profound hospitality all to your glory. Amen.