conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

This is really a sermon about reconciliation.

Ephesians 2:11-22

2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 2:14 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. 2:15 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, 2:16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.

I will tell something of my experience with ecumenism and what I have learned about Reconciliation. This will be a good time to talk about Richmond Hill and the Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler.

Ecumenism
Reconciliation
Healing of racial divisions in Richmond, VA
Ministry of Prayer…services three times a day
Ministry of Community Organizing
Putting wheels on theological understandings and ecumenical agreements

2:17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 2:18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 2:20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

2:21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 2:22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

I want to talk about the Temple here.

You see? The connection between this new community growing and worship is absolutely intrinsic. Paul even goes so far as to re-articulate the architecture of the Temple. The literal walls that would have divided the gentiles from the people of Israel have been torn down. In the Temple in Jerusalem there were different halls for the clean and the unclean, the circumcised and uncircumcised. There could be severe punishments for those who worshiped in the wrong hall. Non Jews were threatened with death.

There was also the Temple veil. When we hear Ephesians read, we should also be hearing the story of Jesus’ death on the cross when the Temple veil was torn. The Temple veil separated the people from the Ark of the Covenant…or at least the tabernacle that held the Ark. Only priests could enter the Tabernacle. It was believed that the unclean would be struck down. There was even a tradition that the priest who was chosen to enter into the tabernacle had a rope tied around his ankle in case God struck him down. That way the others could pull him back out without putting themselves at risk.

As Paul says, the walls are torn down. They are torn down between Gentile and Jew. They are torn down between humanity and God as well. Now there is nothing to separate us.

Where is the Temple located now?

This is where we need Mark to help us out.

Stuff is left out again, miracles of walking on water and feeding five thousand. This is the kind of thing that has kept the disciples busy.

The disciples are tired.
They don’t want to teach.
They don’t want to feed.
Even Jesus himself seems to want to get away. Does his compassion have limits?

But the needs of the world are too great. People follow them.
And so, Jesus takes pity on them.

6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 6:54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 6:55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 6:56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

The work of reconciliation is constant, on-going and absolutely needed in the world. From Mark’s narrative we can begin to understand that the thronging crowd was not the sign of a popularity contest. No. It was a sign of the need of the world for the presence of God.

Paul and Mark are on to the same thing. Reconciliation is more about getting along well, though it is certainly that. It is about an abiding peace, yes, between neighbors and between humanity and God. But this can be understood as health or freedom as well. It can be understood communal well-being. It is Shalom.

Luke Timothy Johnson, a scholar at Duke University, states it this way in his commentary of the New Testament.

The church is founded on the cornerstone of Jesus. But since Jesus is the living Lord and head of the church, it is a living entity, “joined together and growing into a holy temple of the Lord.” Therefore, the church is the place of reconciliation in the world, carrying on the process begun by the death of Jesus.ⁱ

It is the place of the community of the faithful, the church, to continue the reconciling work of Christ. How are we to be a reconciling community?

AWAB?
Speaking out about violence in our city and neighborhoods?
Speaking out about political and theological hostility in our nation?
Speaking out about the hostility in places like Lebanon?
Speaking out about the hostile economic systems that build walls that divide us?

What the world needs is courageous people to speak out as Jesus did, to heal as Jesus did, to seek God’s reconciling will for the world as Paul proclaimed.

The world needs more Jesus and not less.
Churches need to speak out more and not less.
Our theology needs to be spoken and not hidden.

Do we dare proclaim Paul’s vision? Do we believe the world to be reconciled? If we do, we must say so. It is a vision of hope and healing.

The crowd is waiting by the seashore.  They are waiting in Lebanon and Philadelphia and Chicago and El Salvador and even in Wilmette. 

They are ready to hear the word proclaimed and to receive healing.

Are we ready go ashore?

I believe we are.

Thanks be to God.