Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Be Witnesses of the Risen Lord

Gen 33:1-11
 

...for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God—since you have received me with such favor. 


The Cross and the Risen Savior demonstrate the gospel of harmony and peace between the child of God and the God in heaven. Harmony with God is expressed in and through the harmonious interactions with our fellow beings and the wider family of God. Christians are called to be agents of reconciliation as they are considered witnesses and messengers of the resurrected Lord. Our text today presents the reconciliation of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. It is a beautiful comparison of the complete change that takes place in us when we encounter the Risen Lord and his Cross. Both of these men have a change of heart which brings about the reconciliation between them.
Jacob was reared up with ambitions to be greater than Esau, his older twin-brother. As advised by his mother Rebekah, Jacob tricked both Esau and his father, Isaac and deceivingly received the blessing of the firstborn from his father. It is quite weird that they who shared a common space in their mother’s womb could not tolerate each other as they grew up. This rivalry reached its peak when Esau swore that he would kill Jacob. In an attempt to escape the wrath of Esau, Jacob fled from his home to spend the rest of his life apart from his brother.
However, Jacob reminds us that we cannot run away from our responsibility or our problem forever but has to reach a point of reconciliation. Wrongs against society and against one another require forgiveness before God and people. He is told directly, "Go back to the land of your fathers" to which Jacob never argues. During the journey back, the time of prayer leads to a time of intense struggle in the dark hours of night. Jacob seems to be struggling both with God and with himself. He is struggling to submit his will to God. And when he does that, he enjoys the blessing of reconciliation. Jacob knew that he had done wrong to his brother and that he had to make it right. They had to meet and it was never a meeting in the accusatory or revenge seeking mode. Jacob humbled himself before his brother. He acknowledged that he had done the wrong and that marks the beginning of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10 reads, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The encounter with the risen Lord can be the catalyst to enter into reconciliation with our fellow beings.
 
Prayer
Help me Lord, to see others through your eyes, and to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of each person, even those who have hurt me. Give me the courage to reach out and initiate reconciliation, even when it feels difficult or uncomfortable. Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"There is no reconciliation until you recognize the dignity of the other, until you see their view- you have to enter into the pain of the people. You've got to feel their need." - John Paul II


Sherin Mary Jacob
Boston Carmel Mar Thoma Church
       

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more