Have you ever built a wall? Let's quickly walk through the process.
We start with the base, a solid foundation like a concrete floor or something. To this, you attach a frame - those evenly spaced 2x4s.
Then you can fill it in with insulation or soundproofing, as needed,
cover it up with the drywall,
and then decorating it to make it look the way you want. Voila; your wall.
Now, let's look at the process we use to build emotional walls in our lives. It follows the same basic process.
We start with a foundation that is a strong stance on an issue.
We frame our own opinions, different from the "other" person,
and fill or insulate that with our own perceptions.
Cover that up with a few suppositions or even gossip, and decorate it with our own customized justifications.
And now, we have a firm wall between us.
It starts out as a neutral difference; it becomes a barrier that feels personal and aggressive. Family feuds, broken relationships, this is how it often happens.
Spiritually, when we let this happen between ourselves and God - or other Christians, or other religions... well, now we have spiritual walls.
Walls are intentional dividers, barricading us from the outside, protecting us from the other, useful to support other walls - which is great when they're in a house - not so much when they're coming between people.
So now let's consider how we break a wall *down*. Not by a messy wrecking-ball style, of course - but a slightly longer process of carefully dismantling a barrier.
It's putting aside those biased justifications, and agreeing to look at things from a different perspective. It's pulling back the suppositions that have insulated those personal perceptions, then reconciling a variety of opinions and interpretations to de-construct the rigidity of one single frame... and suddenly, we have a lot of material to work with, to start the possibility of re-building something together.
And this message is rife throughout our scriptures today.
In Genesis, Joseph and his brothers have a LOT of walls existing - a history of anger and distrust, of working against each other - Yet... a different course is chosen. Walls come down. Joseph humbles himself enough to reveal his true identity. The brothers agree to set aside their past animosity for the sake of familial reconciliation.
And re-building happens - as they commit to being together, as brothers, into the future. It doesn't mean they are always going to get along - far from it - 12 brothers with a history of violence? - but it means that they value and prioritise the power of coming together above their own personal agendas.
The psalm celebrates this - how good and beautiful it is when we can live together in unity! In unity we maintain ourselves - but to connect our hearts and minds as the beloved family of God - truly this is a gift.
This portion of the epistle is still Paul addressing the Jews who have not yet believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One of God! There's a wall between them that Paul wants to break it down.
They're already talking, obviously, so Paul reveals a truth - the good news that God's promises are irrevocable.
He reinforces the holy reconciliation in his defense that God has not reject any of God's people - which is everyone.
And as he details the extension of God's mercy from one group of people to another, he is emphasizing that this community of faith can be re-built.
The Gospel starts with strong we-versus-them walls that are all-encompassing. Even Jesus himself seems to be following the division. Yet: truths are revealed.
Our friend and brother in Christ, Pastor Rick Pryce, is offering a great reflection this morning on how Jesus is not actually being unnecessarily cruel to this woman, but is engaging in a three-part practice of Jewish dialogue at the time. It's a good learning; I'll share the link here after service.
But how delightful when truth is revealed - how Jesus is present as God's redeemer to all the people, not just the ones he prays with at the Temple. How wonderful is the reconciliation as Jesus details that people are not defiled by external and earthly rules, but by the rejection of God's presence in their hearts.
And through a little conversation, a little compassion, and a little bit of faith, we witness the re-building of community as the people starts to re-think what it means to be together, as God's children.
Walls. Emotionally and spiritually; Jesus brings them down - in a loving and gentle way, that leaves much space for re-building.
So... where are we with this? In our lives - in our relationships - in our ministries... Are we building walls, or bringing down barriers? Are we focusing only on ourselves, or are we engaging with "the other" in ways that reveal, reconcile, and re-build?
It's a challenge, as we are living in a time of geo-political boundaries, of some not respecting health and safety restrictions, of the world generally feeling... scary.
We want to close in, and hide behind strong walls as we feel that the world is becoming increasingly tense, confusing, and dangerous. Even here in beautiful safe Nova Scotia - we're concerned. We like our bubble - our wall - our barrier.
I'm hearing, however, a call for us to be intentional, as we ensure that our physical distance is only that - physical - while we are intentional about preventing emotional walls.
We are called to the ministry of building - and re-building - our community. As people of faith, we know that God is always inviting us to the edge of our comfort zone - sometimes the outside edge! - but there we are embracing one another with a spirit of revealed truth, and reconciled relationship.
And the hard work begins with us.
Tearing down our own walls means rejecting rumours and prejudices, refusing to participate in fear-mongering and anger; and instead focusing on how we can come together, and encourage each other.
It means we need to be vulnerable, and open, and sometimes even admit that our way isn't the only way.
It's our faith that supports us in this work, that allows us to reach deeper into our hearts and souls as we are reaching out to the folks we encounter. It's the act of loving. Fully, unselfishly, deeply, faithfully. It's the gift of being loved SO much that we have only love within us to share.
It is the love that is already given.
So let's use that love, to the best of our ability - as we move forward into the world, as God's beloved, chosen, and redeemed children. Amen.
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