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 parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best known stories in the bible. We like to think of the bad guys that walk past this poor hurting man and we celebrate in the kindness of the Samaritan. However, when we realize that the religious leaders leave the man in the ditch because of their perception of God’s will. What are the acts of mercy that we are missing? What are our misconceptions of God’s will for our lives? How might we show mercy to those around us?

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?