Radical Unity

One of the lectionary readings today was Colossians 3:1-11. There are many great messages in that passage; focus for the moment on this one from verse 11:

In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

I think I often get lost in the poetry of this passage. Consider for a moment the radical nature of that sentence for those who were hearing it.

For the Jews, who had been taught that they were a chosen people, it must have been heart-stopping to hear the words. I imagine the Greeks couldn't imagine that it might be true. Jack spoke today about the barbarian-like Scythians, a culture from which slaves arose. Imagine how radical it seemed to them.

Can you think of a modern-day equivalent? God is saying that it no longer exists. Radical.