Be Reconciled In Love

Christianity is not just a theoretical philosophy; it’s meant to be lived. One radical way you can put your faith into practice is to follow Jesus’ advice on what to do when someone sins against you: “Go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.” This is not the way of the world, which encourages the aggrieved to broadcast their displeasure on the Internet. If you want to test your discipleship, don’t talk behind anyone’s back, but deal with insults and abuses face-to-face in a spirit of love and reconciliation. Peace and joy are two fruits of reconciliation, which word itself stems from a Latin word meaning to be reunited, to return to friendship, while the Greek word means to change or transform a relationship from bad to good.

Reconciliation is the name of a sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos, created in 1977 and originally entitled Reunion, and depicts a man and woman embracing each other. In May 1998 it was presented to the University of Bradford as a memorial to the University’s first Vice-Chancellor Professor Ted Edwards. De Vasconcellos described his inspiration for the work: “The sculpture was originally conceived in the aftermath of the War. Europe was in shock, people were stunned. I read in a newspaper about a woman who crossed Europe on foot to find her husband, and I was so moved that I made the sculpture. Then I thought that it wasn’t only about the reunion of two people but hopefully a reunion of nations which had been fighting.” Later it was taken for repairs to the sculptor’s workshop, and renamed Reconciliation upon the request of the Peace Studies Department of the University. It was unveiled for the second time, under the new name, on de Vasconcellos 90th birthday, October 26, 1994.