Grace Blogspot

Chapter 17 is another hard reading for us. We hear about the dangers of leading others astray, the healing of the lepers and the coming kingdom of God. On this day, I can’t help but think of the lepers. As we all absorb the significance of the votes taken yesterday in congress, it is interesting that our reading today includes a healing. It’s interesting that 10 are cleansed regardless of whether they turn back or not, and that there were foreigners among them. Nonetheless, it is again the Samaritan that does the right thing. The Samaritan shows gratitude. Do we always turn towards God in gratitude for our health and other blessings?

The readings for Monday begin with the Tramsfiguration read not too many Sundays ago in worship. Jesus is seen in all of his post-Easter glory . . . but importantly is not deterred from coming back down the mountain to finish the journey. Are there times in our lives when we would rather experience some internal Easter rather than engage the world as Christ did?

Both stories for Wednesday’s reading deal with people not understanding who Jesus is. John’s disciples don’t and the Pharisees and others do not. Curiously it us the most broken and hurting among us who recognize Jesus. How do we embrace Christ as the one who save us in spite of our brokeness?

Two healing accounts of sorts today. The centurion’s slave and raising the son of the widow from the dead. The centurion’s faith impresses Jesus, but it’s clear from the text that Jesus intended to go there anyway. Curiously faith is not mentioned in the raising of the young man. Jesus is impressed by faith, but it is not a prerequisite for healing. Jesus acts, Jesus touches, Jesus heals . . . . where in our hearts and lives do we need to feel the healing touch of Christ? Do we have faith to turn towards him?

Jesus moves into a different phase in today’s readings. He confronts. He does this in an aggressive fashion. He heals on the sabbath, people who were ill the day before, or would be still the next day, but he heals in the plain sight of everyone on the sabbath . . . . when you’re not supposed to work . . . . He proclaims himself the lord of the sabbath and goes on to bless the poor, hungry, weeping and the outcasts . . . while warning those who are thought well of in the community. What is Jesus saying to us? What cherished aspects of our faith or piety is Christ pushing aside? What in us is Christ blessing? What in us is Christ challenging?

Today’s ready is a series of brief stories of healing and calling. They begin with the healing of a leper, where Jesus touches him . . . . touches him!? This was unheard of! Jesus reaches out to the broken and those who are cast out, like the tax collectors. Jesus reaches out and touches those who are untouchable. This season we ask to be touched ourselves by Jesus that we might be made whole. We also conclude with the story of new wine skins. Are we ready to take in Christ’s good news?