Jesus is the salvation that God has prepared in the sight of all peoples. He opens boundaries: between God and human beings; between us and others.

The Word has become flesh through the motherhood of Mary. And being thus uniquely God and man, Jesus becomes the one mediator between God and us. He is, then, the only Pontifex, the bridge-maker, or the bridge itself. For through him crossing from our side to the side of God, or from the side of God to our side, becomes possible. So, the great chasm between God and us is not among the boundaries that divide.

No, Jesus does not build walls that separate or set up boundaries that divide. He does not want division and estrangement, but rather communion and endearment. And if separation from God means loss or perdition, then gain or salvation lies in communion (see CCC 760, 761).

They gain and have salvation, then, those who cross boundaries through Jesus. Through him, they go to the Father in the one Spirit (see Eph 2, 14-19). Their peace is Christ; he breaks down the wall, the boundaries, of enmity between Jews and Gentiles.

In Christ, yes, there are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens and members of the household of God, co-heirs, co-partners in the promise. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free person, no male and female, for all are one in Christ (Gal 3, 28). Coming true, then, is Ps 87, 4-5: “Babylon and Egypt I will count among those who know me; Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia, these will be her children and Zion shall be called ‘Mother’ for all shall be her children.”

And so, the questions for us are: Do our lives show all this to be true? Are we really in Christ Jesus? Or do we fight for divisive boundaries?

Lord Jesus, make us glow as we see you show yourself to the nations, so that no boundaries may stop us. Rather, may we reach out to others, going, not just to one place, but all over the world (SV.EN XII:215). Also, may our listening to the word of God be like that of your mother. And grant that our breaking of the bread show and bring about oneness among us. Make us like you, always welcoming those who have no one to help them, never letting them go hungry. And calling up blessings rather than curses.

1 January 2020
Mary, Mother of God
Num 6, 22-27; Gal 4, 4-7; Lk 2, 16-21

5 January 2020
Epiphany of the Lord (A)
Is 60, 1-6; Eph 3, 2-3a. 5-6; Mt 2, 1-12