Lent
March 17, 2017

Scripture Reading:  Romans 5:1-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. –Romans 5:6-11

I do not like to do anything that deals with money and avoid it if possible. When I hear the word reconcile, I think of making my checkbook match my bank statement. In 1996 the general church in which I participate, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), initiated an expanded ministry to address the issues around racism. Its stated purpose is:

The Initiative called the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to practice faithfulness with regard to the elimination of racism, which exists in all manifestations of the church, to discern the presence and nature of racism as sin, to develop strategies to eradicate it, and to work toward racial reconciliation.

 There is that word again, reconciliation. Paul uses it in our scripture today, I believe, to indicate Jesus Christ’s making us whole. It is the right word to use. Racism divides us in many ways and frustrates us not unlike trying to find the missing amount that keeps our checkbooks out of balance. Racism is a serious hindrance to our being in balance with all of God’s children. Our relationships with others can be way out of balance, totally severed even. More often today the streams of racism are subtle hard to recognize in ourselves.

True reconciliation with all of God’s children starts with being reconciled with God. We took the first step when we joined our lives with Christ. The gift of the Holy Spirit guides our quest for wholeness. Part of our wholeness comes in our expanded love of all of God’s children just as they are and rejoicing in who they are as they are.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole, make us one. Let your justice, formed from peace and love, spread throughout this land. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.