Made The Two Groups One

             For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,  by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:14-19)

                The last verse is the conclusion toward which we are working, but to get there, we need to wander the estate. We have been welcomed in, given a room, and told we can live there as beloved family members. As we close the door to our room, which has no lock, and walk down the hallway, we see into some of the other rooms. Some have gorgeous decorations, stuff, and views that are better than ours, and some have worse. In some, the decorations look a little strange. They have colors we wouldn’t put together, or what look like symbols we’re sure don’t belong there. Sometimes, there are painted or embroidered words in frames, and we don’t recognize them. There are some strange scents and sounds. We’re introduced to Hans, who turns out to have been a Nazi soldier in World War II. Or to Idris, who lived in Algeria.

                The estate onto which we’ve been welcomed looks and feels like home, but at the same time, doesn’t. And it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are people whose behavior doesn’t fit with Scripture yet. After all, we’re not in heaven yet. There are people wandering around who don’t belong on the estate, but are allowed. There are people who do belong on the estate, perhaps more than we think we do, and people who may someday overcome the bad habits that make you wonder why they’re there. There’s hard work to be done. But we’ve been welcomed.

                The point is, they’ve been welcomed or permitted, too. And it’s our job to live with them as fellow citizens.