The Ministry of Reconciliation: Becoming What We Were Made to Be

Butterflies and dragonflies soar against a blue sky, showcasing nature's art.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Step outside. The world is aching. Wars rage, trust crumbles, families fracture. The news is filled with division, fear, and despair. We are told that brokenness is the final word—that we are too far gone, too divided, too lost to be made whole again.

And yet, in the midst of this, Paul proclaims something radical: in Christ, we are made new. Not repaired. Not improved. New. The old self, with its burdens of sin, shame, and estrangement, is gone. In its place stands something transformed by grace.

But this is not a passive gift—it is an urgent calling. God has entrusted us, His Church, with the ministry of reconciliation. We are not just recipients of His mercy; we are ambassadors of it. This is the work of Lent: to turn back to God, to strip away all that separates us from Him, and to step boldly into His mission of healing and renewal.

As we draw closer to Passiontide, we must ask ourselves:

Where have we allowed resentment, division, or indifference to take root?

Whom do we need to forgive?

Where is God calling us to act—to be peacemakers, to heal wounds, to reconcile with those we have wronged?

The world is watching. The world is waiting. Let us show them what grace can do.

Prayer Points:

For personal renewal: That we may truly repent, letting go of the old and embracing the new life Christ offers.

For the Church: That we may be a beacon of reconciliation, standing firm in truth while extending mercy.

For the world: That in places of conflict and division, God’s healing power may break through.

For courage: That we may not shy away from the hard work of reconciliation, even when it is costly.

For the grace to forgive: That as we have been forgiven, we may also forgive.

"We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Let us not settle for shallow reflection this Lent. Let us become what we were made to be: a people of reconciliation, a living sign of Christ’s love in a broken world.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.