The New Creation

Our reading from Second Corinthians starts in the middle of Paul’s thought. We can tell this by the “therefore” in the first line. What Paul is referring to is a discussion about faith and ministry, two things that are possible because Christ died for all. Paul continues that we no longer are able to see others from any point of view other than in the light of Christ. This is another way of saying that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male nor female all are viewed as those who are to be reconciled to God through Christ and we are God’s ambassadors. This is what it means to be made new in Christ. We no longer are swayed by human desires and prejudices. We no longer separate people into differing groups. In fact Paul is implying that it is precisely those people who do not as yet know Christ that we are to invite into God’s kingdom.

Paul is not making this statement up out of whole cloth. He is basing this call on his own life and on Jesus’ teaching. He himself saw Jesus in human terms – just another human being – and those who were following him committing heresy. That is why he persecuted them, arrested them, and even approved of killing them. That was until his conversion on the road to Damascus. From then on he saw Jesus as the Messiah – God’s son and savior. Jesus taught that this is the way of God. To renew the covenant so that all people may join in. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son is one of the ways Jesus taught this. The Pharisees and Scribes were clinging to their old human system of using criteria to decide who would be allowed in God’s kingdom attacking Jesus for seeing all people as God’s creation.  Instead of making the prodigal son less for what he had done, his father welcomed him back with joy. But then, you already know that and that story is about the loyal son and how he reacted to his father’s welcome of his hated brother. 

We know that brother’s complaint. We hear versions of it every day and have said it ourselves. From complaints about giving aid to poor people or helping immigrants we look to others with a human point of view. Jesus calls us to a different standard. That standard is to see others in the light of Christ. As people undeserving of the joyful reception and feast we are invited to the table. In Christ we are a new creation. There is no longer Greek or Jew, slave or free, male of female. Now we see each other as God’s creation and are called to bring to them the love of God that we, undeservedly, have been given. Instead of standing outside the feast we are called to join in by inviting others to the table.

We are witnessing a horrible example of that old way of looking at others in Ukraine. We have also seen how people have seen new opportunities to be part of God’s creation in welcoming others. We have also seen how ambassadors have worked to reconcile people and end the horrible disaster wrought by selfish egos. Paul calls us to do the same for God’s kingdom. He calls us to be ambassadors  to bring God’s reconciliation to the world. Answer that call and serve with love and faith so that all those you meet will experience the love of God and desire to join us around the feast that has no end.