Sermon Ash Wednesday 2023 Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – Be Reconciled

 Sermon Ash Wednesday 2023

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – Be Reconciled

 

Be reconciled to God. Paul is pleading with us to be reconciled to God. It’s an interesting request. I didn’t think that I was not reconciled to God. Isn’t that what Easter and Jesus’ death are all about? I must admit that I’ve had issues with certain people in my lifetime but I’ve never felt the need to be reconciled to God. But perhaps this is Paul’s way of reminding us that if there is a lack of reconciliation with our brothers and sisters then this does in fact affect our relationship with God. There are references in Scripture that support this. John says - If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother or sister, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

 

Reconciliation with one another is not always easy. And it seems that the closer the relationship then the more difficult it is. Such as families, marriages and churches. When there is a dispute in these close relationships then the hurt is greater and the separation seems wider. We feel at times we have good reason to maintain that grudge because of what they have done to us. You don’t know how they’ve treated me.  ou don’t know the things they’ve done to me. You don’t know the things they’ve said about me. I can never forgive them this side of eternity. You know, I actually heard a fellow Seminary student say that in a prayer meeting about his family who had hurt him. I can never forgive them this side of eternity. And I must admit that at the time when I’ve been “kicked in the guts” that I have actually felt that way even though I might not have stated it. Maybe you’ve felt that way when you’ve been betrayed or hurt.

 

I have no doubt there are many hurt people at present in our Lutheran Church of Australia. And as much as we would love to be firstly reconciled with one another it’s a massive journey if we want to do it on our own.

And that’s why Paul encourages us to be reconciled to God because that is where – and the only place where – we can gather the strength to be reconciled to one another in times like this. And Paul shows us just how much sacrifice it takes in those situations in God’s reconciliation with us. It took the sacrifice of his Son. God made him who had no sin to become our sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

No one is saying that it’s easy to reconcile with one another when there has been great hurt and betrayal. No one is saying there is not further hurt in the process as Jesus experienced – My God, My God, why have you forsaken me. But in the result of reconciliation with God we have been eternally blessed. Likewise when we are reconciled with one another how much comfort and warmth we experience and we ask ourselves – “why didn’t I forgive right at the beginning and save myself all that hurt I experienced. Sometimes reconciliation takes time.

 

As we begin our Lenten journey this year it is probably one of the most reflective Lenten seasons we have ever had. Reconciliation has probably never been as important as it is now. For many it may seem impossible but with God all things are possible. Humankind sentenced God’s one and only Son to death and yet it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died – the godly for the ungodly. Forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing. If we think that reconciliation is impossible then we need to look again to the cross of Jesus Christ where our reconciliation with God began and ended. Those words Jesus cried out from the cross – it is finished – meant the work of reconciliation was finished.

 

This Lent let us go on a journey together of reconciliation. And here’s the challenge. Is there someone in your life with whom you need reconciliation? Perhaps it was that person who was the cause of the harm. Perhaps it is that person that needs to make things right with you. But look at our Gospel reading and what Jesus reveals.

Six times Jesus uses the word – “secret”. That your giving may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

That your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Whether you receive justice for being the bigger person in this lifetime is not important. Your heavenly Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you – in fact he has rewarded you already. Who knows that by your act of reconciliation you may indeed save someone eternally. So may God bless you this Lent as you journey with Christ to the Cross of Reconciliation. And may your reconciliation with God strengthen you to be reconciled with one another.