Jesus is on the other side

Monday January 28^th, 1 Corinthians 12:  12 The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does. 13 Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God's Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ.  This was a radical understanding at the time of Paul.  Jews and Gentiles did not freely associate, and slavery, where one person owned another, was a part of everyday life.  Paul is stating that we are all part of God’s glorious creation no matter what lot fate casts us in.  Whenever there is a division, whenever there is a line drawn in the sand, Jesus is on the other side of the line.  When we draw lines and build fences, whether they be between Christians and non-Christians, Jews and Palestinians, East and West Germany, Americans and Mexicans, Gay and Straight, we only succeed is putting a wall between ourselves and God.  Where do we draw lines, whether physically or rhetorically today?  In how many ways and in how many houses of worship do we force Jesus out, allowing him in name only, but not in our hearts in the process?  What can we do in our community to help erase the lines that have already been drawn? Remember, whenever you draw a line in the sand, Jesus is on the other side of that line!