2Co
5:17-6:2
Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold,
the new has come.
All this
is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation; that is, in
Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God
making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled
to God.
For our
sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God. Working together
with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he
says, "In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I
have helped you." Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the
day of salvation.
As we commence this Lenten journey we may have
decided or are still deciding to do something different – to really deepen our
relationship with God this year. To fast and pray and make ourselves worthy
through a process of 40 days of self reflection.
St Paul tells us though that we are already a new
creation. He says that we have been reconciled as a gift from God and that he
has also given us a ministry, a ministry to bring all creation to reconciliation,
through our actions, through our character through our life.
It is not enough to be less wicked then others to
be less corrupt to be less distracted by the things of this world. We need to
be devoted to this ministry of reconciliation – living true to the Gospel and
sharing the gospel truly.
In this season of lent – give yourself time to
live out Gospel values of grace, mercy, peace, hope and love these are the
gifts that reconcile us to God and others.
." Behold, now is the favourable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation”
Holy Father we thank you that you have reconciled
us to yourself through your Son. Teach us in this the time of your favour to
engage ourselves in acts of reconciliation – loving our neighbours, loving
truth, and busying ourselves in your ministry. Amen.
