Reflections for Sunday
Feast of the Epiphany - January 4, 2004
Surely you have heard of the stewardship of God's love that has been entrusted to me for your sake. A mystery was made known to me by revelation that was not made known to other generations, but now is revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. It is that all peoples are joint heirs, members of the same body, and joint partakers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.Ephesians 3: 2-6
Salvation Is For All
God became man in the child Jesus to reveal to the world that God's love reaches to everyone. God's love is without distinctions or limits or conditions. In God's eyes no one is a foreigner. No one is in a place where he does not belong; no one is barred from crossing a border; no one needs a passport or a visa to be part of the family of humanity. Everyone is part of one body and is a full heir to humanity's promises.
The gospel message of God's love for all is a judgment as well as a blessing. Men and women of faith must take to heart the challenge of being open to all people without distinction. We must make a place in our own lives for those who are different from us. And we must be advocates within our communities for those who are excluded. As long as some are excluded from a place among us, and are deprived of human dignity and opportunity, our stewardship of the gospel falls short. On the journey of faith no one is to be left behind. We must enter the kingdom of God as one, or not enter at all.
Lord Jesus, you came into the world to bring salvation to all peoples. May we who are blessed with the gift of faith open our hearts to all our brothers and sisters. As you sanctified all humanity by becoming man, and made us one body in faith, may we live as one in this life, so that we may be one with you in eternity.