Our inclusive God

For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Is 56:7) 

The good news of Jesus Christ is a message of hope for all peoples. Though we sometimes worry and fret about the state of the church, especially in a culture that more and more resists organized religion for a more generic spirituality, we should never let ourselves forget that the new covenant in Jesus Christ is the gift of a God who includes all people in his love. While understandable, since these are quintessential Christian celebrations, we sometimes forget, in the run up to Christmas, that the scriptures are forever reminding us that the child whose birth we celebrate does not belong exclusively to Christians, but is given in love for all people.

Again and again in the New Testament we hear this. John tells us that Jesus Christ will "draw all people" to himself, (Jn. 12:32) and Paul reminds us that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28) Remarkably, Isaiah echoes what we think are inclusive terms found only in the New Testament. "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Is 56:7) Still, as Christmas nears, it is tempting to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus as if he was ours alone.  Such has never been true and we will never really appreciate the wonder of Christmas until we find ways to celebrate that he is a gift for all nations and all people. A simple way to express this conviction is to let the joy we feel during Advent and Christmas shine like a soft light in our personal and family lives, and spread through acts of compassionate justice into the lives of those who are empty of hope.

Today, take some time to pray that the Good News of Jesus will seep, like water enlivening the roots of the tallest trees, into the hearts and lives of all people as a promise of salvation and hope for everyone.