“Reconciliation” 

Preacher: Rev. Jean Baptiste Kenol Rock, PhD 

Jesus said: “So when you are offering your gift at the altar if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” 

Our central theme for our homely this morning is Reconciliation, which is one of the great ways to prepare for the approaching Holy season of Lent. First of all, what is Reconciliation? In general, Reconciliation is a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace between two parties. From the theological and biblical point of view, Reconciliation means restoring a damaged and broken relationship between God and humans and between people. In a word, Reconciliation is an expression of love and forgiveness. 

Once upon a time, one of my parishioners felt offended by another parishioner. Even after she received an apology, she decided to leave the congregation due to the offense, finding herself unable to forgive. However, after time and spiritual searching, she eventually agreed to grant forgiveness, and some years after, she came back to rejoin our congregation and became more involved than ever. She was willing to restore the broken relationship with those who had hurt her. Seeing such restoration taking place is a joy, not only in the heart of this offender but also in the whole congregation. 

At this point, I ask: Can we reconcile with God if we do not reconcile with our brothers or sisters? Can we love God if we do not love our brother or sister, whom we can see and touch? Can we love God if we cannot forgive others for what they have done against us? Many theologians agree that reconciliation, love (agape love), and forgiveness work together and are inseparable. 

When I started meditating on the text related to Reconciliation this week, I discovered that to rebuild a 

solid and permanent relationship with our brothers and sisters, restore our relationship with God, and strengthen these permanent relationships, the first step is self-reconciliation. It means self-love, which allows us to be in harmony with ourselves. God designed us for harmony and good relationships with others, especially Him. That is why Reconciliation is important. Understanding and practicing Reconciliation in our daily lives is vitally important for every one of us, our families, and the whole Church. 

We have the power to choose the way of Reconciliation rather than the way of division or excessive competition. Reconciliation is a way of collaboration, healing a broken relationship, and building up our relationship with Jesus, our Lord, so that we may continue to live and work together as a community of faith based on love and forgiveness. 

As I said previously, the way of Reconciliation is a way of collaboration, a way of working together, allowing us to shape into a consensus, meaning a form of decision-making leading us in one direction despite all differences based on race and class and so forth. The way of Reconciliation that Jesus underlines in today’s gospel may help us to understand the concept of unity into diversity. Paul explained this concept well in the following popular expression. “ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28. In this sense, Paul wants to tell us that our identity and unity is to be found in Christ alone, then even bringing up race in the Church which is itself a source of division, such distinctions having been wiped away by the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ who highlights the central message of the gospel is the message of Reconciliation. 

The parishioner offended made the best choice by returning to restore the damage between her and the other member. Since all members are affected by such restoration, this explains how we are united to one another; no matter what race or class we belong to, we are united. 

Again, Jesus said: “When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” In doing so, we can rebuild the damaged relationships – even if the damage is not our fault. According to Paul, the only way Reconciliation can take place is if the one who has been offended is willing to forgive; the only way Reconciliation can take place is if the barrier of the offense is removed. Paul said: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And God has committed to us the message of Reconciliation.” Paul continues, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who gave us the ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5: 17- 18). As we are part of a new creation, we are called not only to reconcile ourselves, to others, and to God but also to be an agent of this Reconciliation, an agent of love, and a healer of damaged relationships between people in this broken world. 

Do not be afraid to approach the one who has offended you, telling them this: let us work together; this is what God calls us to do. Everyone benefits through the expression of love, peace, and forgiveness, which is Reconciliation. 

Reconciliation: message delivered by the Rev. Jean Baptiste Kenol Rock, PhD