A Closer Look at Reconciliation During our Lenten fast, we are urged to limit the time spent on worldly pursuits

and commit ourselves to disciplined, prayerful study of scripture since our goal is to become like Christ, who often withdrew from the busy world of his public ministry to nurture his relationship with the Father. Today, we are invited to reflect on the readings through the lens of reconciliation. Todays readings, particularly the epistle and gospel lessons, are concerned with the theme of reconciliation. Reconciliation is a term that is popular in theology and counselling but what exactly is reconciliation? Reconciliation is Gods act of mending/fixing/healing the broken relationship between God and humanity. Humans are unable to bring about reconciliation. Reconciliation is Gods doing exclusively. However, God may choose to use those who are reconciled to him to bring about reconciliation in the world. In the epistle (2 Cor. 5:17-21), Paul makes it clear that once we have become reconciled we become Gods ambassadors since God uses us to appeal to humanity to allow God to carry out Gods work of reconciliation in the world. David E. Garland points out three key assertions in this text: 1) God is the driving force behind the redemption of humankind. Reconciliation comes solely at Gods initiative. 2) God acted through Christs death, and Christ alone is the means of reconciliation. 3) God continues to act through those who have been reconciled. They have the privilege and responsibility to share in this great divine enterprise and are to call others to be reconciled to God. In the gospel, the famous story of the Prodigal Son, we observe reconciliation in process. The son, a squanderer, returns home in repentance and receives the welcome, pardon and grace of his father. He receives a new and lasting inheritance. Reconciliation is offered by the father and the reconciled son is now poised to become a facilitator of reconciliation in the world. This is the story of all Christians. God reconciles us to Gods self and then equips us so that we can become engaged in Gods work of reconciliation in the world. R. Paul Olson, writing about reconciliation from a perspective of pastoral counseling, posits that recovery from the human suffering associated

with alienation from God is brought about by reconciliation with God. Repentance is the key to this new life with God, along with the central experience of divine forgiveness and healing. Accepting Gods acceptance of us leads to a grateful life of loving service sustained by a life of faithful prayer. Let us pray that God will use us in reconciling this broken world to Gods self. It is a very important part of our Christian stewardship.