Christ as One Who Ends All Divisions

In today's second reading,  Ephesians 2: 13-18, St. Paul reminds us that Jesus "came and preached peace to [us] who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we [all] have access in one Spirit to the Father."   Paul was speaking to Jews and Gentiles, peoples who were at odd with one another, divided by different faiths. In Jesus, divisions cease between persons, cultures, nations.  Jesus "is our peace, he who made both [parties-- whether individuals or nations, different races or nationalities] one and  broke down dividing wall/[s] of enmity, through is flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create  in himself one new person [nation, race, culture, religion] in place of the two [or three, four, five, etc.] thus establishing peace, and might reconcile [all] with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it."

God sees us at war with those we consider inferior to us; He witnesses us at odds with different cultures, races, nationalities, countries. God, not only sees the divisiveness and the animosity that exist among us, but also takes action, sending us the graces we need to end divisions, to reconcile with one another as persons, as countries in opposition to one another, as persons  hostile toward those who may worship God differently than we do.  We have God on our side to help us accomplish the mission of reconciliation and to move toward greater union and deeper love in our relationships on all levels of existence: familial, interpersonal, societal, ecclesial, national, international.

Looking upon the I AM upon the cross

In today’s Gospel, John 8: 21-30, Jesus says to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.”  Why will they die in their sin? Because, Jesus says they “do not believe that I AM.”

In the today’s first reading, all who looked upon the bronze serpent after being bitten lived. They did not die (cf. Numbers 21: 4-9).  We have all been bitten by sin. Sin abides in us, as does holiness.  Those who believe in Jesus will be saved. Those are saved who look upon Jesus on the cross, believing that He is the Son of God who, in the words of St. Paul, was made “sin for us, [He] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21).

When humankind rebelled against God, as Adam did in the Garden of Paradise, as the Israelites did in the desert, as we do in the deserts of our lives, in our exile from eternity, there was only one way to be ransomed from death and that was by the Son of God sacrificing His life for our salvation. No animal sacrifice would suffice. Neither would the sacrifice of a human being. Ransom had to be paid by someone equal to God, someone who was God.

Jesus, Paul tells us, was made sin for us and, as such, was crucified. Sin was put to death on that cross, as Jesus gave His life for us in accord with the will of God that we might be “made the righteousness of God” through Jesus obedience unto death.  As we look upon Jesus on the cross, believing that He is the Son of God and is the One who reveals the depth of God’s love for us, we are saved in Christ Jesus. In baptism we died and rose with Christ. In our physical death, we, too, will die and rise with Christ because of our faith. Without faith in Christ, we die in our sins, not in Christ.

O God, O Jesus, O Mary, may I have that kind of faith now and at the hour of my death!