Mid-way through Lent, one might wonder why the cross is so important for Christians. It has prompted many theological terms to try to explain it, but for me, reconciliation has been an important one. It has always been forefront for me in my understanding of my role in ministry, but it has become more so as I become engaged with the Palestine/Israel search for a solution to peace.
The focus of the lectionary for Lent 4 is reconciliation. The father’s welcome of his rebellious son demonstrates a radical grace that leads to reconciliation.
The first priority of Christians is to encourage reconciliation between human beings and God through Jesus Christ. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul calls us to be reconciled to God.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)
Reconciliation between people and God will always be the most important reconciliation.
But reconciliation is cross-shaped: “vertical” reconciliation between people and God and “horizontal” reconciliation between human beings.
So for Christians, can we model our relationships in family, church, social encounters or between nations, on the “horizontal” reconciliation paradigm that Jesus gave us? In the parable of the Father and sons, both sons were scheming to win a place in the father’s household. The father’s running and embracing his rebellious son was totally unexpected and undeserved. The acceptance of the son by the father did not depend on the son’s change of attitude. Our reconciliation with God is not due to anything we have done, but what God has done for us in Christ.
At the human level, repentance and forgiveness precedes reconciliation. The normal human process makes repentance a precondition. The blocks to reconciliation are often a prior demand by one or both sides for admission of injustice and repentance in the form of reparations to correct the injustice before reconciliation can happen. How long do we hold out for the other to give in? The parable of the father and sons demonstrates God’s way of reconciliation as a different way for human reconciliation. Reconciliation without admission of guilt is revolutionary. But for me that is the essence of the cross.