In today's Gospel, Jesus is chased from His hometown. People who knew Him from His youth wanted to go so far as to throw him headfirst from the top of the hill ... all because He was not what they expected. They wanted a Messiah who would solve all of their problems for them. One who would crush all of their enemies, heal all of their sick, and make them into a nation that would make the world tremble.
Instead, He tells them that they need to change the way that they live their lives. He accuses them of not helping the poor and sick enough. He tells them that He is there to bring God's love to those who are not the "chosen people."
God is not who or what we imagine. He is beyond it in ways that our minds cannot comprehend. Yet He still keeps Him message simple: love. Even those who are weird. Even those who believe differently than us. Even those who have wronged us. Even our greatest enemies.
I struggle with this so very much in my life. It is too easy to pass judgment on those who seem too stupid, too strange, too hateful to deserve anything less than contempt. Yet in doing so, I separate myself from God, for God is within each of us.
... even the Patriots.
Instead, He tells them that they need to change the way that they live their lives. He accuses them of not helping the poor and sick enough. He tells them that He is there to bring God's love to those who are not the "chosen people."
God is not who or what we imagine. He is beyond it in ways that our minds cannot comprehend. Yet He still keeps Him message simple: love. Even those who are weird. Even those who believe differently than us. Even those who have wronged us. Even our greatest enemies.
I struggle with this so very much in my life. It is too easy to pass judgment on those who seem too stupid, too strange, too hateful to deserve anything less than contempt. Yet in doing so, I separate myself from God, for God is within each of us.
... even the Patriots.
RSS Feed
