Pauline Reflections 07 - 20th September 2008

“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God”. 
Ephesians 2:19-22

Paul’s main intention in these verses is to reassure the gentile converts by letting them know that they have equal opportunities and privileges with Israelite converts. Today, this text is very relevant for the universal Church and for Christians all over the world. Truly, we Christians are fellow citizens. Citizenship can be understood in different senses. It can be restricted to a geographical identity. A classic example is when Paul describes himself as a citizen of Tarsus (Acts 21:39). Citizenship can also be beyond geography, in which case Paul considers himself as a Roman citizen, and this gave him rights and privileges in the Roman Empire. Most importantly here, Paul talks about spiritual citizenship in the church, and by extension to heavenly citizenship. (Philippians 3: 20)

Paul uses a building/household as a metaphor, and this emphasises the idea of unity among the members of God's household - the Church. All members of the Church are citizens of the Church, the family of God's people: no spectators, each person is as important as the other.  Members of the Church come from different social, cultural, political, and ethnic backgrounds. Each member’s life experience is different and unique, yet each person fits very well as a part of this building, this beautiful household of God.

This household belongs to God. He, therefore, is the foundation. Each part, that is each member, is required to have integrity so that this household may blossom and flourish properly. St Peter also uses the analogy of a building to emphasise the unity and the call to holiness of God’s people. “Rid yourself of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:1-5) 

It follows that if the different parts of the household/building are weak, it endangers the building itself, and this may lead to the fear of collapse. Christ is the crowning glory - the capstone and we each look up to him for assurance and protection. He calls us each day as ‘living stones’ to be firm and supportive of each other - sharing our concerns, our joys and our sorrows.

 Prayer

Lord, make me a ‘living stone’, an active member of your body the Church. Open my eyes to see you and serve you especially in the most vulnerable members of this household; grant me all it takes to be a good citizen of your Church here and of heaven when my time on earth is over. Amen.