Archive for month: April, 2022

As Christ’s Church, we have become agents of reconciliation through forgiveness. We offer others the peace we have found through the forgiveness that we have received from God. We have our own struggles with retaining sins because we have issues either offering forgiveness or receiving forgiveness. Nevertheless, like the disciples, we are sent to proclaim reconciliation with God and one another through Jesus Christ based upon divine forgiveness. As God sent Jesus, Jesus sends you (Acts 5:27-32).

We can only do our share and hope the one from whom we are estranged, responds
in faithfulness, sincerity, and repentance, just as we are to be sincere, faithful, and repentant. The hope of present and future peace rests upon our offering forgiveness in the hope of reconciliation. Like the disciples, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon us and “peace flows.” Peace flows from God the Father through God the Son to us, and through us by the Holy Spirit, this peace flows unto the world. Christianity is about making the world a better place with its emphasis upon peace and grace. This is not a pseudo peace that hides all the bad under the rug; it is a peace that confronts that which hinders peace and grace, and that which hinders begins with us!

Christians believe that there is more to life than a biological existence. Indeed, the pall of death that hangs over our biological existence is overcome by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection gives us a glimpse of the ultimate future, and in particular, the resurrection of Jesus reveals that God’s love ultimately overcomes all.  The resurrection of Jesus gives us the hope of our own resurrections, and a life beyond one of this biological existence in which we find ourselves. The hope of resurrection is more than a “fire insurance,” it concerns how we live today (1 Corinthians 15:34, 48-49).

The life and teachings of Jesus give us a glimpse of what resurrection life is like in that although Jesus had all power and authority, he did not oppress anyone. He refused to return evil for evil, hatred for hatred, or punch for punch. God’s love could not be defeated by human hatred. Paul encourages us to live a life of compassion and this encouragement is not based upon fear and judgment. Rather, it is based upon the ultimate triumph of God’s love as revealed in the resurrection of Jesus. May the way we live express the hope of resurrection.