Reconciliation: it is not as hard

Today we read that the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ (cf. Js 5:9a, 10-12). St. Paul writes this in his second letter to the Corinthians: ‘Brothers and sisters…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’ (2 Cor5:17-21). The story of the prodigal son in today’s gospel according to Saint Luke 15:1-3. 11-32, is all about God’s willing readiness to forgive and reconcile us to himself and restore us to the rich heritage of his love and mercy.

Beloved People of God, reconciliation is not as hard if we give it both a deep thought and a sincere consideration. No doubt, reconciliation is easier with God than with fellow human beings. From of old, God has shown us how much he loves us and wants us to experience mercy and forgiveness. We need to acknowledge and accept that, in Christ, we have been reconciled with God. The difficulty, the challenge lies in recognising that we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. The one who has been forgiven ought to do well, forgiving others.

We have all benefitted and still benefit from God’s love, mercy and forgiveness, namely reconciliation. We pray to be people who can willingly, readily and genuinely forgive and reconcile as we have been forgiven. Christ suffered for love of us and has left us an example. This Lent season, may we follow in his steps.

Fr. Ted