1 + 1 = 1 - Paul names two groups-gentiles
and Jews-as being communities quite different in covenantal status but equally alien to
God’s household who are brought together as household members through Christ. Thus,
Christ is the universal "peace child" who reconciles both groups to God thereby
creating a new People of God. Paul forms this argument by using the once-but-now pattern
that begins the chapter.
Common Concern - Ephesians posits a challenge to both Jews and
Christians by insisting that cultural and religious divisions are contrary to God’s
vision of human salvation. Circumcision or lack of circumcision is "in the
flesh," ethnic divisions (2:11) that divide people into opposing camps. So Christians
and Jews should not just talk about shared beliefs . . . they should find ways to witness
to faith in the God who unites us . . . Social projects that embody a shared concern for
justice are one way of recognizing common values grounded in Scripture. [1]
An Early Christian Voice - Both Jews and Gentiles have access to the
Father through Christ himself. But how? In one Spirit. For the Spirit, who is one with
Christ, enters into us when we believe in Christ. We then feel God’s presence, know
God and worship God. Thus we come to the Father in that same Spirit through Christ. [2]
From where did your family lines
emigrate? What did their new citizenship mean to them? What might such a transition from a
country of origin to a new land require of newly arriving emigrates?
How do you think the practicing Jews felt when these Gentiles started coming to their
church, but didn’t want to adopt the Jewish custom of circumcision?
In Jim Jackson’s The Path to
Perfect Peace, the question of peace is posed. [3] Moving textually through the first
paragraph, the homilist describes the words and phrases that Paul uses to describe
un-peace: aliens, strangers to God, hopelessness, etc.
Homily Illustration: the development of the Transcontinental Railroad
that connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by rail.
Shift to the Cross and the three-fold peace that resulted: peace with other people and
peace with God and peace with ourselves. In the first sense, we continue to tear down the
dividing walls of race, class, gender, education. Language, economic , political,
religious, etc.
Shift to final paragraph in biblical text: the architectural metaphor. Christians have
become through Christ’s cross mobile, ambulatory, conduits of the kingdom of God come
in Jesus. Doesn’t that give you peace? he concludes.
