Ephesians 2:11-22

In the second chapter of the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, the apostle to the gentiles reminds Jews and gentiles of their journey. A journey from alienation to reconciliation, from division to unity, and from enmity to peace. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, addresses these two groups, reminding them—and us today—of the incredible work of Christ in breaking down the barriers that once separated them. These barriers Paul is talking about were not just any barriers. They were religious, historical and cultural barriers. Barriers strong enough to keep these two groups divided for thousands of years. Barriers that still today keep societies divided. Paul mentions some of these barriers.

First, Religious barrier like Circumcision: Ever since God made his covenant with Abraham some 2,000 years before Jesus and Paul, circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Jews were circumcised when they were 8 days old as a mark of their identity and separation from other nations. Those who were not circumcised, were seen as outsiders to this covenant. As people no worthy to be part of Israel.

Second, The Law of Moses: Israel followed the Mosaic Law, which included commandments, rituals, festivities and other restrictions. These laws distinguished Jews from Gentiles, who did not observe them. This obedience to the law created a division in religious practices and daily life. This law was the difference between a pure person and a sinner. Between a righteous and a sinful person.

Third, Historical Hostility: There was a long history of enmity and conflict between Jews and Gentile nations. This historical environment contributed to a deep-seated sense of division and animosity. The Samaritans are only one example mentioned in the gospels. A Samaritan and a Jew could not even walk by the same sidewalk.

And fourth, Social and Cultural Practices: Jews and Gentiles had different customs, traditions, and social practices. These differences often led to mutual suspicion and hostility. For instance, Jews maintained dietary laws and purity regulations that set them apart from Gentiles, affecting social interactions such as sharing meals. And with all these barriers preventing these two groups to come together, Paul is celebrating the unity Jesus has created among them.

In this passage, Paul speaks of a powerful agent of transformation: Christ. Through Christ -Paul says-, gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. This message is easy for us to hear, but in Paul’s times, it was hard to accept for many in the Jewish community. Paul emphasizes that Christ has broken down these barriers. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has abolished the dividing wall of hostility, creating one new humanity, and reconciling both, Jews and Gentiles to God in one body through the cross. This message underscores the transformative power of Christ’s work in bringing unity and peace where there was once division and enmity.

This passage is a strong reminder that if God has brought Jews and Gentiles together, uncircumcision and circumcision together regardless of all barriers they had, there is hope for our world and for our country. One radical element of this message is that God’s unification of the two groups does not mean “uniformity.” Does not mean that one group must agree or obey the dominant group. No, what Paul says is that God in Christ has made one humanity of the two. Gentiles do not have to become Jews and practice what the law says or keep the Jewish customs; Jews do not become Gentiles either. Rather, both Jews and Gentiles become united in Christ as who they are Jews and Gentiles.

Let us remember that the one writing this letter is Paul, the former Saul. Saul is the one who persecuted those who were preaching the message of Jesus. Jesus who was preaching the love of God for the whole world, the one who stopped and talk to a Samaritan woman and healed the centurion’s daughter. Saul was against the idea of letting gentiles be part of Israel. The old Paul believed that killing and incarcerating Christians was the answer to stop those with a different interpretation about God and the Torah.

Paul’s action further deepened the existing division. However, after his encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, he understood that humans’ points of view divide, yes, but Jesus unifies. He experienced in his own life the transforming power of Jesus… and now the new Paul can be a testimony of what he is writing to the church in Ephesus. God in Christ can unify the most divided society, the most divided groups. Groups who believed had enough reasons to be apart. After his encounter with the risen Christ, Paul was able to accept and love gentiles.

What can our society learn from the message of Paul to Ephesus? What can we learn from a letter written almost 2000 years ago? Sadly, a lot. As in Paul’s times, -and specially in elections times-, our society still believes we have valid reasons to be divided. We still believe that those who do not agree with us are automatically against us. We are still divided for the same reason Jews and Gentiles were. Religious reasons, in our world Muslims, Christians and Jews cannot live in peace. We still have historical reasons too. In our country South and North are still politically divided. We still have political reasons for not coming together, Democrat and Republican cannot come together and unify forces and resources for a better country. Even our gender is a reason for division. To all these reasons we can add the social class we belong to, the families we are born in, the education we have received.    

And here we have Paul this morning with a still relevant message for all of us, “Jesus has already destroyed the barriers, the dividing walls of hostility and has created in himself one new humanity. Jesus put to death all our hostility.” This morning God is telling us, as country, stop fighting and come together and become a holy temple in the Lord… and remember, we, the people are not merely a collection of competing groups, we are one community; Consequently, we are not to fight, or diminish each other. Why? Because we all are the body of Jesus, and he is our head.

Today, God is challenging our broken reality. Today, God, through Paul is challenging his people to believe that the unification he did with Jews and gentiles, he can do it with our society today. He can bring together Reds and Blues, Jews, Christians and Muslims. He can help us to live together regardless of our gender, sexual orientation, or any other differences. With his help and guide we can coexist in peace, support one another and worship God under one roof. God, through Paul is inviting us to celebrate our shared humanity and build connections based on understanding and compassion.

Let us celebrate that among us there are not foreigners and strangers, (or Democrats and Republicans) but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (not on gender or religion, or race, or political party) with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him (not our own agendas) we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Brothers and sisters in a world that often emphasizes division, we are called to be a living testimony of the reconciling power of Christ. As we go forth from here, may we be inspired to live out Christ’ unity in practical ways, demonstrating to the world the power of the Gospel to bring people together. Let our unity be a beacon of hope, showing that in Christ, all things are made new, and we are truly one.

Amen.