Living together in Harmony
With 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 in mind, we asked a few teachers to respond to this prompt: How can a teacher be a minister of reconciliation (restoring Shalom) in this life and toward the one to come? In order to prepare for their answers, E.M., Kimberly, and Melissa sat down to talk about reconciliation. We had our own experiences in mind. One of us lives with a disability. Two have lived as foreigners in China, and we each have experienced discrimination because we’re women. Yet, looking back on the conversation, what stands out are not our experiences but a sense of our own need for reconciliation. And so, what you find below is an entry in our teacher lectionary flowing out of our interactions. Much of it comes from 2 Corinthians (5:16-21 in particular). We also referred to Colossians 3:1-17 and Luke 17:1-10, and we close with Psalm 133. Boxed quotes come from our conversation.
Entering the Throne Room
Reconciler, there is none like You!
- You covered the distance, from heaven to earth, so that we through your poverty might become rich.
- You have not counted my sins against me. Instead, wondrously, You see me as You created me to be.
- Thanks be to You for Your unfathomable and undeserved gifts of harmony, favor, and forgiveness!
Seeking Mercy
Forgive me when I fail to be holy as you are holy:
- when my words and attitudes sow disharmony.
- when I keep people at arm’s length, afraid of their differences.
- when I think my ways are better.
- when I dig in my heels and wait for others to take the first steps of peace toward me.
- when I count their sins against them while excusing my own.
- when I see them solely with my human eyes.
Transform me into Your new creation. Help me:
- to take off my old way of pride, assumptions, and prejudices.
- to give up my comforts and yield my rights.
- to clothe myself in humility, mercy, kindness, gentleness, and patience.
- to make allowances for differences and forgive offenses.
- to look for Your image in others.
- to be a pursuer of peace.
Set me apart for Your work of reconciliation. I am an unworthy servant simply seeking to do my duty.
Advocating
We need Your wisdom:
- about when to speak and when to be silent.
- about when to move forward and when to hold back allowing others to have control.
- about when to try harder and when to let go.
- about how to love without condemnation.
I need Your courage:
- to embrace relationships with people who are different from me.
- to persevere down thorny paths of restoration.
- to let go of my expectations.
- to enact justice and speak truth in ways that harmonize.
- to breathe out reconciliation like a blessing over others.
Grant us peace. Dona nobis pacem.
Going Forth
How wonderful and pleasant it is
when sisters and brothers live together in harmony!
It is like priceless anointing oil,
holy as the oil that flowed down Aaron’s beard,
wafting a delightful aroma for Yahweh and all who breathe it in.
It is like a gentle rain in the mountains
that cools, refreshes, softens, and bears fruit.
Harmony between us is where Yahweh pronounces His blessing.
It is life forevermore.
Further exploration
- You can find a printable version of this lectionary here: Living together in Harmony.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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