Psalms 106:1-18 * 106:19-48; 2 Kings 21:1-18; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Matthew 8:28-34Jesus heals two "demoniacs" who are living in a grave yard today. They go to their town and tell everyone what Jesus has done for them. Jesus trails along behind them and the "whole town" comes out to meet Jesus and they "beg" him to leave, to go somewhere else.
Faced with the unexplainable, the town reacts in fear and asks that the source of that fear to go away. How often do we do this in our lives? In small ways and large, we hide from those things that make us afraid, that scare us. Think about what those townsfolk lost by asking Jesus to leave....healing possibilities, being in the presence of God taken human form, experiencing a love that knows no bounds.
Fear is a powerful motivator and can come from a deep place of needed self-protection. Yet we cannot let our fear of things unknown get in the way of: doing what we are called by God to do; nor living into creating that kingdom Jesus announces. We are not called to say Go Away! to Jesus' presence in our daily lives. As hard as it may be, as frightened as we may feel, the unusualness that is this kingdom of God is worth walking into, welcoming into our community, our lives, our homes.
jfd+
Copyright 2009, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment