A Different Sort of Offensive

Scripture

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

(2Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT)

A Different Sort of Offensive

We have been sad observers of the offensive military moves on our world stage, leaving destruction and death in its path for no reason it appears than ego. Refugees flood neighbouring countries, bodies lie in the streets, buildings and vehicles demolished – and to what end we ask one another?

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and Jesus mounted a donkey to create a very different kind of offensive. His steely jaw is set to engage the powers of evil and death, suffer and die to bring life, hope and forgiveness- yes, even reconciliation between God and creation, creation and humanity and person to person.

But the work is not finished. Our own nation is divided among factions. Our homeless and powerless still need help. Our First nations people still have unresolved physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds we have created over centuries. The work of reconciliation is given to us – as impossible and improbable as it seems.

We are fractured people who are trying to bring hope, health and healing to our world. It is only by the gentle and powerful strength of our loving God that we can make any difference at all. But we can choose the path of reconciliation – an offensive for good.

A Prayer for Today

Grateful as we are for the world we know and the universe beyond our understanding, we particularly praise you, whom eternity cannot contain, for coming to earth and entering time in Jesus. For his life which informs our living, for his compassion which changes our hearts, for his clear speaking which contradicts our harmless generalities, for his enduring presence, his innocent suffering, his fearless dying, his rising to life breathing forgiveness, we praise you and worship him.

We gladly join our voices to the song of the Church on earth and in heaven: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.