Jim Mayo

Ephesians 2:11-22
So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”–a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 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. 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, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Reflection:
“We’ve never been more divided…tribalism is at an all-time high…are our divisions beyond repair?”

These are ideas frequently raised and debated over the last few years. They could have been written a few thousand years ago. When Aristotle refers to bestial behavior, he says it is found most frequently among barbarians, defined as those who do not speak Greek.

The Jewish community during Paul’s time had contempt for the Gentile. It was unlawful to render help to a Gentile woman in childbirth so as not to help bring another Gentile into the world. Into this reality, Paul writes his letter not only to the Ephesians, but thought to be intended for all other churches as well. The many laws put into place by men are abolished by Jesus and replaced by one new humanity. In Greek, there are two words for new. The first is Neos– new in point of time, e.g.; a new pencil manufactured today but following the creation of millions of  pencils before it. Paul uses the other, Kainos, new in the sense that it brings a new quality of thing into the world that didn’t exist before. Through him all who were far off are brought near. There are to be no walls between us.

Paul ends this passage with an architectural theme. We are the stones of the church, different colors, sizes, and shapes; but we stand upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. The unity of the church is not in the organization, the ritual, or the liturgy; it is from Christ. Christ is all inclusive; all divisions are man-made and antithetical to Christ’s teaching. But it is in Christ that we are set free from division and brought together as one body, united by God’s great love for all Creation.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to be a small stone in your holy temple. I pray that you will give me guidance if I hinder its construction. Amen.