Advent - Ephesians 2:14-16
The reflection in the BP calendar for today was only verses 14-15 but they made no sense to me without some more context
Ephesians 2:11-22
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh, 15 invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself. 17 And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near, 18 because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Summary
It's a dense section, like a lot of Paul's letters, so no surprise. I think the simplest truth from this passage is that to be a "citizen of heaven" requires nothing more than to be chosen by Jesus. For much of the Bible, and the history of Israel, the first requirement was being in the physical nation of Israel - God's chosen people. Jesus comes to unleash the blessing of adoption and reconiciliiation onto the whole world, not just one imperfect white-washed nation.
TLDR: Jesus brings peace through unity of faith in his saving power - there is nothing that can separate God's own from himself, including who your ancestors are.
Peace
"For he himself is our peace"... Amen and amen. My reflections during and prior to Advent this year have strong running themes of freedom and peace because by God's grace he's impressing these blessings into my heart. In the stillness of the morning or the chaos of the afternoon, I can thankfully say that the name of Jesus never fails to ground my feet in the reality of his kingdom, and at the very least - draw my eyes above the trial to the horizon - where just like I can see nothing without the sun's light, the world is clearer and more peaceful in the light of the Son of God.