One more theme to look at during Lent is reconciliation, which builds on repentance, forgiveness, and obedience.
Start first by reading Colossians 1: 15 – 19, which I will refer to as the foundation for our reflection.
I think you would agree with me that reconciliation is a process that seems to be very difficult to achieve. And, when we use it only when we are trying to resolve broken relationships.
Of course, the ultimate goal of reconciliation is to repair these broken relationships.
You and I have experienced broken relationships in one or another. That may be between you and your friend, a family member, a co-worker, so forth.
Genesis 3 is a scripture that tells us how our relationship with God got broken. Adam and Eve, the first human being to exist here on earth, according to the Bible, disobeyed God. As a result, it alienated (separated) them from God, each other, and nature.
God, therefore, would attempt to help humankind repair their relationship with God. Part of the process, according to the Bible, God would speak through Moses, the judges, and the prophets to redeem humans.
But, none of that worked!
Only God can draw humans back to God.
Jesus is then the only way to God, the Father. He said it in John 14: 6,
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Paul, in Colossians 1 (our scriptural foundation for this reflection), talks about four truths, which speak to Biblical reconciliation.
Here they are.
Jesus is the image of the God we cannot see.
Read Colossians 1: 15. There, you hear Paul talks about the preeminence of Jesus Christ. He starts by saying that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Also, through Jesus all things came into being, and they all did so for Jesus. That includes thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities.
What that points out to is the fact God is in control of every single event in space and time.
Through Jesus, not only you and I can experience the power of God. But, now we can see the invisible God through Jesus. Read again John 14, but this time, verses 1 through 11.
Jesus is the only One who can hold things together.
Read Colossians 1: 16-17. Jesus is the only one who can hold things together. The preeminence of Jesus Christ also implies that Jesus is the only one who can hold things together.
In other words, Jesus has the power to restore and make things work again as they were originally meant to, including relationships.
In Jesus is the fullness of God.
Read Colossians 1: 18. To help you understand this concept, go back to my article, On Obedience.
In Jesus is the fullness of God as a result of his obedience, humility and choice of taking a form of a servant (Philippians 2). The fullness of God is something you and I can also experience through faith in Jesus Christ.
God dwelling in you empowers you to repent, forgive, and obey God’s word. It is where you and I should start in order to reconcile with God and each other.
God reconciles God’s creation through Jesus Christ.
Read Colossians 1: 19. The reality of reconciliation is that for it to work, we need to rely on what God has done through Jesus Christ for us. When we embrace God’s work by faith in Jesus Christ, we can then achieve the ultimate state of peace, harmony and order.
God’s work required the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus took care of it as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the all humans (see John 1: 29).
Bringing it together
Jesus died and shed his own blood, and that sacrifice has restored our relationships with God and each other. That ultimate sacrifice God made by giving His only son has also enabled us to reconcile with God, and each other. As a result, we are able to reach a state of order, harmony, and balance that we were meant to have from the very beginning.
