We Are What God Made Us

“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” [Ephesians 2:10]

The greatest love story ever told is yours. Because you are what God has made you, prepared for love.

I know this because I know it is the truth of my life. The love my husband and I share saves us over and over and over and over. Love wins. But you have to let it.

And that, too, is the message of the Gospel. Love wins. If you let it.

There are a metaphors galore in this week’s scripture, it is the fourth Sunday in Lent after all, we should really be down there digging deep into our process of re-penting—rethinking and remembering the power of love.

In Numbers [21:4-9] the wanderers are angry and weary. In their weariness they turn inward and stop loving disconnecting themselves from each other and thus from God. Absent God’s love they become vulnerable. But they repent and reconnect and the love shared with God saves them.

In Psalm 107 [:1-3, 17-22] the Psalmist sings the story of the angry wanderers losing sight of their faith.

In the letter to the church at Ephesus [Ephesians 2:1-10] Paul gives a midrash on the same story, pointing out the punch line that salvation is by grace through faith … translation: love wins, but you have to let it.

In John’s Gospel [3:14-21} Jesus preaches about the true meaning of his impending Crucifixion and Resurrection. The point is, again, that love wins, but you have to get out of the way and let it.

Those who believe in the Son of Man, therefore believe in the power of walking in love, and therefore remain connected. Those who love life come to the light. Their salvation is now “realized” when they let it be within them.

What does that say to LGBTQ+ people?

Paul says “We are what [God] has made us.”

Jesus says “those who do what is true come to the light.”

Paul concludes “salvation is by grace through faith.”

4 Lent Year B RCL 2024 (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21) ©2024 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.