OUR 16 geese divided themselves into two warring factions. The larger flock of 10 geese was headed by a bullying gander with a very loud and strident voice. He berated the smaller flock and seemed to use terrible language. It got so bad two years ago that the gander who headed the smaller group flew away and has not been seen since. He couldn’t take the heat of constant criticism, but probably ended in a hotter place in a neighbour’s cooking pot. Now there is a sudden change. A goose in the persecuted group has just successfully hatched six goslings, which are following her around and eating the grass on the lawn. We tried to keep the flocks apart while the goslings were small and vulnerable, but that proved hard to do. To our total surprise the loudmouthed gander of the bigger group has joined up with the smaller and is following the goslings around protectively. The other members of his group have been doing a lot of shouting in perplexity, but the contesting groups have been reconciled through the arrival of the goslings.
The arrival of the Christ-child in Bethlehem 2 000 years ago opened the possibility of reconciliation between conflicting people and groups. Jesus taught his followers to love one another. The early Christians were able to form unified groups in spite of their cultural and status differences, some being Greek or Roman, others Jews, some slaves, others free citizens. The unity between Christians was a witness to all observers of the new life Jesus offered. Sadly many Christians today have lost the love for neighbours and fellow believers which Jesus commanded and illustrated in his own life. The worldly attitudes of conflict have eclipsed the commandments to love. Perhaps we need to do soul searching if we feel antagonism towards other individuals or groups.
Reconciliation on a grander scale came when Jesus bridged the gap between evil people and a righteous God. People like us filled with the guilt of past wrongdoing were poles apart from Almighty God who cannot countenance evil. But Jesus through his death took the punishment men and women deserve and left them free of guilt. He opened the way for people like us to be reconciled to God and know the amazing benefits of a life linked to the Creator of all. Our belief in who Jesus is, and our repentance for past sin will open the way for us to an eternity with God.
“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them …..we implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (Excerpts from 2 Cor 5:19,20)
