As We Are

“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, NIV)

This past Sunday, we began our recognition of the season of Epiphany. This season lies in between Christmas and Lent, celebrating revelation … God’s revealing of Himself through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Saviour.

We will be journeying through much of the gospel of Matthew, reflecting on Christ and the gospel He has brought for each of us. It does not matter who we are, what we have experienced, or whether we come with questions, the gospel of Jesus is for each and every one of us. It does not matter our cultural or sexual background, it does not matter whether our life feels together or not, and it does not matter whether we blindly follow or wrestle with questions, the gospel invites all and is sufficient for all.

I encourage you to spend time reading through the gospels, taking notice of how Jesus accepts and cares for each person who crosses His path … both individuals and groups. Never does He reduce or change who He is or what He stands for, but His love is so pervasive that it envelops everyone who comes along. How am I remaining in His love and acceptance, and in what ways am I extending this same unquestioning love and acceptance to all those who cross my path?

A significant part of the start of Epiphany is Christ’s baptism. It is a clear sign of identification, and this Sunday we will be reflecting on this. Key to our journey with Christ, key to our experiencing the fullness of the gospel is knowing and marking the spiritual milestones in our lives. When and how have we stood before our community to express our faith and commitment to Christ? When and how, as Christ has revealed Himself to us, have we revealed Him to those we live alongside?