Scripture: Luke 7:1-2
After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die.
Thought for the Day: As we begin the seventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel, we find a transition from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. It was during this powerful sermon that Jesus shared essential components of his message, including: Loving your enemies, being nonjudgmental and allowing your life to bear the fruit of authenticity. At this transitional point, Jesus enters Capernaum. This is a signal that we’ve moved into Gentile territory. Jesus is with “those” people, and suddenly the high calling of the Sermon on the Plain will be put to the test. I think this transition could be compared to the transition we make every week from the sanctuary to life outside the sanctuary. In worship, we hear the high calling of Jesus, but on Monday (maybe Sunday in the middle of the afternoon), we can find ourselves thrust into unfriendly territory where we are justifying why it is that the clear message of love in all its forms is not applicable in this setting. We do it all the time, yet the Gospel of Luke doesn’t make room for these excuses. Following Jesus is 24/7 commitment, no week off. This is why we need weekly worship. It’s hard work, and we need a time to rest, recoup and be reminded of why we are doing it in the first place.
Prayer: As people all around me attempt to make distinctions and differentiations in regard to the value of human beings, I pray to you, O Lord — Savior of All — to instill the Jesus message within me so that I am consistent and authentic wherever I find myself. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY
At Noon
