Saturday Afternoon... and Always

Early this morning, I was on a walk, when I passed by the exquisitely beautiful, Catholic church three doors down from me.  And I noticed a sign out front:

Reconciliation: Saturdays, 3:30 pm-4:30 pm

Instantly, I felt grief over this blatant lie that so many live under: that there is only one hour in a week where we might be reconciled...reunited... made right with Christ.  

I'm not trying to bash on the Catholic church⏤ I believe anyone who worships the one, true Lord, Jesus Christ⏤has the gift of Life.  And I believe there are genuine worshippers in that church.  

But I also believe they are wrong when it comes to their understanding of reconciliation.  

For if, while we were enemies,  we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (1) 

[He] has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... that he might...reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (2) 

The Word makes it clear that the cross was the completing work needed to reconcile us to our Creator.  We were banished from his presence because of our sin, but now we are invited into the "new and living way that he opened for us", "for all time".  (3,4)  

With just a couple of words, that beautiful church has unfortunately hidden and perverted a beautiful truth.  

In reality, though, my mind is equally as skilled as distorting the truth.  For even as I walked by that sign, this morning, I was in the middle of preaching to myself the Way He has made. I was wrestling through lies that the work is incomplete.  That my access to him is conditional.   

If you're like me, you, too, need frequent reminders that God has overcome my need to earn reconciliation.  That in Christ, there is no "partial peace".  

Oh, how distant we can feel from the Lord.  Our condemning thoughts, distracted minds, and sinful failures can feel like barriers to his presence. 

 But there is good news! GREAT news!...

We don't have to wait until Saturday afternoon rolls around, to talk to a priest about our wrongdoing and be reunited into his wonderful presence.  

The good news is it is finished.  (5)

Our Great High Priest said so.  

And we can rejoice, this afternoon and this evening, and tomorrow and the next day!... that we, "who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death.." (6) 




(1) Romans 5:10-11
(2) Ephesians 2:14-16
(3) Hebrews 10:20
(4) Hebrews 10:12
(5) John 19:30
(6) Colossians 1:21-22