December 16th - Reflection

Galatians 3:23-29 (NRSV)
Children of God by Christ's coming

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Reflection
The people were bound by the law under the old covenant. God was keeping the Chosen People safe under the law. He was also binding the rest of us by the law through the Chosen People. Under the old covenant we were in waiting for something new. We were learning that even the Chosen People could not keep the old covenant, let alone those outside the law. Waiting for someone to free us from ourselves. Waiting for someone to redeem our sinfulness. A world broken by failure to uphold the law of the old covenant. Waiting...waiting...waiting.

Then, just at the right time, the Father sent the Son into this world. The waiting was over. Jesus was sent to fulfill the old and begin a new covenant. Jesus came into this world and kept the old covenant laws. Jesus cane to be that One human who could abide by the laws and live. And live he did! Through his life, suffering, death and resurrection; Jesus lives.

Jesus lives as the one man perfect in God yet truly human as we are. Jesus lives after defeating sin, death and the devil. And in Jesus a new covenant is born and grows. A covenant that does not separate the church but unites all of the catholic church under One Jesus Christ. We become one yet are many in gift and deed and call. We are one in faith in Jesus gracious salvation. We are no longer bound by the old covenant law, but free by the new covenant love of Christ.

Filled with faith through and in Jesus Christ we are baptized and grow as a new creation; free to live out the love of Christ. Free to give away life, knowing that in the giving of our own life to another, abundant life is received through the Father. As we live belonging to Christ we clearly see the value of the old covenant and the law. The law is no longer a threat to us but a lovely gift of guidance for us to follow. The old and the new covenants gloriously meld together into One body, One faith, One Church. We are in Christ and Christ in the Father and all are one.

Wait,,,wait...wait...there is so much more to come! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Come Lord Jesus...come --- Amen