Wednesday, January 29, 2025
“He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps
the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of
love.” (Ephesians 4:16, New
Living Translation)
Yes, it is that time of year, in
the middle of January’s winter doldrums, that I am, once again, tackling an
adult Lego set. It says right in the box – 18 years plus; I am very much in the
“plus” category. This year, it is a cityscape of Gotham City from the Batman
sagas. There are 43 bags of Lego pieces which add up to thousands of pieces,
many of which are quite tiny. There are two thick instruction manuals with
meticulous details for step-by-step construction. I am currently on bag 17.
It gives a whole new meaning to
the words “I am falling to pieces” or “Get it together.”
It makes me think of the man who
was possessed by an evil spirit and was out of control. He cried out “My
name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” (Mark 5:9)
He was torn apart in many directions. There was no consistency, no inner
harmony, no lasting internal structure or any sense of peace and steadiness. He
was a broken man. Jesus took compassion on him and cured him. Later on, in the
story, we find the man “perfectly sane” (v.15) In fact, he becomes an
evangelist, of sorts, visiting towns in the region “to proclaim the great
things Jesus had done for him…” (v.20)
The love of Jesus is a wonderful
stabilizer for us. His Spirit helps us to make sense of life’s instabilities
and brokenness. His words lead us through times of confusion and fragmentation.
His Voice mends the broken-hearted and heals the disintegration of our spirits
and souls. Jesus is at the core of our psychic unity, our inner harmony, our sense
of having it together. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and
trust also in me.” (John 14:1) Jesus knows the Way and he gives us his
direction. “Since I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
This gift of peace and harmony
extends into our relationships. “He makes the whole body fit together
perfectly…” Paul often mentions the need for unity and harmony in his letters
to the churches. But I am taking the liberty to suggest that we can apply his
remarks to any of our close relationships like families, neighbourhoods, or
anywhere people are trying to get along to make a difference for good. It is
hard to get a group pf people to come together for a common purpose and mutual benefit.
It always seems that arguments, different agendas and disagreements arise. But the sign of a mature, healthy church or
family or group is that even in difficult situations our faith supports
conflict resolutions: “So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary
disputes in this life.” (1 Corinthians 6:3)
Jesus is the glue that binds us
personally and in fellowship with others in love. If and when we feel that life
is falling apart, that our relationship are in tatters, that nothing makes much
sense, that we are going “insane” in some measure, then we need to be open to the
loving Voice of Jesus which can bring clarity, coherency, and restore us to our
senses. “He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one
new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both
groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each
other was put to death.” (Ephesians 2: 15 -16) In the same spirit, he tears
down the barriers between families, church folk, races and religions. Christ is
the author of a world-wide effort to bring Love, Peace, Justice and Hope to people.
It’s called the Kingdom of God. It begins with each of us personally and then
spreads from brother and sister to others.
I don’t build a 43-bag
set of Lego in a day or even a week. It takes time to put all those pieces in
the right place. Likewise, it takes work and effort for each of us to “get it together”
and build a life of goodness and holiness. The same is true of our relationships.
Hear this bold statement: “He existed before
anything else, and he holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1: 17) Trust
that “he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it
grows as God nourishes it.” (Colossians 2:19)
Bag #17, here I come!
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