New People: with and in Christ

WORD 2day: Friday, 2nd week in Ordinary time

January 22, 2021: Hebrew 8:6-13; Mark 3: 13-19

New covenant, new people, new faith, new community, new life: for behold I make all things new. ..this is the theme that dominated the life of the early Christians. And that was what made them so attractive. Their life style and values brought freshness and zest for life. All this newness came from one fundamental experience - the experience of a new relationship with Christ and in Christ.

Their relationship with Christ defined their new existence. Their identities were renewed and their lives were transformed, Christ and relationship with Christ was not one of the things that marked their meaning to life, but was that which pervaded their entire life and reality, changing every bit of life and its significance.

Another salient feature of their new found life was their relationships in Christ - in Christ they found a new relationship with God and with one another. Their relationship with Christ affected their relationships in Christ... they began to see themselves as sons and daughters of God, beloved and blessed; they found in each other true brothers and sisters in Christ, bonded in love and not bound by some give and take transaction. Their relationships in Christ created a whole new society, a whole new world!

Let us make this two-fold reflecttion today: how is my relationship with Christ who wishes to draw me closer to himself every day; and how are my relationships with others founded in Christ? These will make us New people with and in Christ!