Sunday of Ruth (NT)

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” Christians should persuade and lead others to Christ. We should call others to faith. We should likewise call our children to faith. We should bring our children to the Baptismal Font, and help to educate them in the true faith. All of us need to know Jesus Christ as the Salvation of our sin.

It amazes me how often Christians are not willing to be reconciled. Jesus Christ gives us the perfect example of someone reconciling with his enemies. Jesus Christ does not make excuses. He does not talk about all your past disgraces. Jesus tells us he forgives us. Jesus even tells us to forgive one another.

St Paul reminds us that we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. It is a part of Christ that we have already been made a new Creation. This means we are forgiven people. Therefore, let us forgive one another in Christ Jesus. Jesus has forgiven you all your sins. It is no longer my right to point out these sins that you have confessed and received forgiveness.