“Nearby stood six stone jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim” (Jn.2:6,7).

  The season of lent is considered as a time of dedication to God and reconciliation with men. The personal reconciliation between man and man (1 Sam. 29:4, Matt. 5:24, 1 Cor. 7:11) and between God and man (Rom. 5:1-11, 2 Cor. 5:18, Col. 1:20, Eph. 2:5) is called reconciliation according to the Bible. Through this relationship, in the place of enmity and otherness, peace and fellowship are created. In Greek the verbs Kattallazo (2 Cor.5:18-19, 1 Cor. 7:11), apokattallazo (Eph. 2:16, Col. 1:21) and diallazo (Matt. 5:24) and the noun kattallagi (Rom. 5:11, 11:15) are used to mean reconciliation. The true meaning of the word is ‘leveling’, to change completely from one state of affairs to another one. Through the death of Christ, God has made a total change in the world in relation to him. Jesus has re-established and reconciled with God the relationship which has been lost between God and a revolting man (2 Cor. 5:18, Eph. 2:4, Jn. 3:16). God is the sole author of this reconciliation. The reconciliation that God sought through Jesus is announced here (Rom. 5:10, Col. 1:20,22; Eph. 2:16). We visualize the character of Jesus on the cross as granting forgiveness to all and reconciling all to God. We get this message of reconciliation that it should happen in every one “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Ps. 85:10). This is the perfect definition of reconciliation. God’s love covers up the multitude of disobediences (1 Pet. 4:8, Prov. 10:12). As the Lenten Season starts, let reconciliation begin in our personal, ecclesiastical and social realms.

1. The Blessings of Reconciliation (Gen. 45:1-15)

The life of Joseph is an apt example showing his attitude of reconciliation towards his brothers. He was blessed by God for his long suffering forgiveness towards his brothers. Joseph lived a life with bitter experiences. His brothers tried at his life and sold him to the Midianite merchants. Again he was incarcerated there for mistakes not of his own. In the book of Genesis the highest count of words are used to picture out the character of Joseph. From the age of 17 (Gen. 37:2) to the age of 30, his life graph was in the descending order. But at last, when he sees his brothers, he never showed any enmity, but forgave them sincerely (Gen. 45:1-15). He gave the final verdict in the following words “But Joseph said to them, don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” (Gen. 50:19, 20). Theologians who sketch Christology say that Joseph who forgave his brothers, though he could have punished them for their earlier mis- doings against him is the Old Testament shadow for Jesus Christ of the New Testament. Joseph’s character of reconciliation turned to be a blessing to a multitude of people.

2. Cross: The model of Reconciliation (Eph. 2:11-22)

The greatest model of reconciliation followed in the world is what Jesus has given to men through the cross as reconciliation. Jesus Christ has brought together, who were far and near to establish a horizontal relationship. Thus, He made all are being one and created a new humanity. This new humanity has been related to God in a vertical relationship. This is the vision of the cross. He has broken the wall of separation so that we could say “he is our peace” (Eph. 2:14). Paul says that no one is a stranger hereafter. Through Jesus Christ all have been made one. Thus, we find the greatest vision of reconciliation in Jesus Christ. Every Christian should follow this model.

3. The Reconciliation begun at the ‘First Sign’ (Jn. 2:1-11)

According to the rules of cleansing in the law the stone jars were kept out the house. But at Cana they were used to serve wine. Reconciliation starts here. The evangelist John records the miracles and mighty acts of Jesus using the word ‘sign’. As far as John is concerned, these are not simply miracles. They signify many other things. What happens abruptly and supernaturally is a miracle. But signs are miracles with a meaning. This is seen in the sign of changing the water into wine. The stone jars used for purification rites are being used to share wine. Water which is colorless, tasteless and odorless has been changed into colorful, tasty and aromatic wine. The empty vessels were filled up to the brim. The sign of bringing a person to the fellowship of God, who was once outside the kingdom of God is the sign here. Changing a characterless man into a man of character is the sign. The sign is filling the empty. All these explain the reconciliation that Jesus has revealed on the cross. Through this reconciliation which Christ gives a mystic spiritual unity of joining with God is affected.

Collect:

Gracious God, who loved us in Jesus Christ, Lord give readiness and courage to reconcile with you, all people and whole creation, transcending our barriers and boundaries. Let the time of Lent refresh us with a new perspective of looking at the Cross of Christ, through, in which you have reconciled with us and the whole creation. Strengthen us with your Spirit so that we may become your channels of reconciliation in your faith journey; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.

Amen.