Ephesians 2:11-16a

“You [Gentiles] were separated from Christ . . ., separated from the commonwealth of Israel, without hope and without God in the world. But you that were once afar off have come near by the blood of Christ. He’s the basis for peace between us. He made both of us into one group, tore down the dividing barrier between us, and abolished in his flesh the law made up of commanded regulations. That way, from the two groups he could create in himself one new united mankind, making peace between us, and reconciling both of us to God in one body through the cross.”

The message in this quotation can be generalized across all differences that do not matter and across all divisions that result from human weakness and immaturity. The central feature in Christ’s purpose for giving his life for us has been to reconcile alienated people.

In taking this bread and fruit of the vine, we agree to be part of Christ’s solution to divisions between people in families, churches, communities, and work groups.

As much as lies in us, we resolve to live peacefully with everyone (Romans 12:18). That’s a worthy and challenging task, one for which Christ ended up giving his life. That’s what we are remembering him for today.