Outside In
Luke 4:21-30
This week's Gospel reading, Luke 4:21-30 follows immediately from last week's reading. Jesus shows us God at work in the same way God has often been at work across the millennia and continues to be today. As the Gospel continues, God will once again bring to life new stories with, through, and among particular people, often outsiders to the traditional faith.
The gospel Jesus shares is jarring and infuriating to the temple stalwarts, ready to thrust him out of the city, headlong down the hillside. Jesus did not share the story they expected to hear, but instead one breaking through our calcified ideas, reminding us God has always walked among those on the edges or outside of the faith, such as the widow who houses Elijah, or Naaman, the foreigner healed by Elisha.
What are the edges of our faith, our social circle, that we need to explore, and perhaps open ourselves up to?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan
Adapted from David L. Ostendorf, Daily Feast, Year C