Breaking Down Hostility
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.
Ephesians 2:13-14
Ephesians 2 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It tells so beautifully of all that has been achieved through Jesus’ death and resurrection for you and me. By the mercy of God, we have been taken from living in darkness and sin into a world where we live lives of rich goodness and holiness. We are reconciled to God Himself.
The second half of the chapter draws out the message even more. Through the Cross, all hostility has been removed. Yes, between us and God, but also between us and one another. There is no room for division and warring–no room for hate. We are no longer groups defined by labels we might put on ourselves or names and details reflected in our passports or legal documents. In Christ, through His death and resurrection, we are made new, into a new identity that makes us one with each other, no matter the differences. We are one.
A few years ago, my spiritual mentor, former tutor and seminary dean, Canon Dr. Christina Baxter visited St. Martin’s and, among other things, led a “quiet day” for us. She told a story of when she was a seminary professor and had a young student who was somewhat over-confident, perhaps even arrogant. Rather than call him out, she began to pray two things over the course of the semester. She prayed that the young student might recognize his character flaw, and that she might recognize when she exhibited the same flaw.
God’s work in this world is one of reconciliation: us with Him, us with each other and us within ourselves. They are not discrete and different tasks; you cannot grow in one without the other. Dr. Baxter knew that as she saw the arrogance of the young man in her tutor group. To bear with him in his character flaw, she needed to learn to bear with it within her own soul too.
I invite you today to reflect on this power of the Cross to break down walls of hostility, that you might have eyes to see where God wants to bring peace: with Him, with others and within the depths of your heart and soul.
