10-09-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 9, 2020
Scripture: Matthew 15:30-31
Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Thought for the Day: When was the last time people were amazed? We too often are expecting to be amazed by the wrong stuff. Jesus, in his acts of healing, was not only bringing these people into wholeness, but returning them to community. At a time when so many people not only were left out because of illness, disease or loss of ability, there was a common belief that the struggles of these people were a sign of God’s displeasure with them. For that reason, they were often dismissed and marginalized by society. But when Jesus restored the lame, the blind, the mute and the many others, he was demonstrating how they were never outside of God’s grace. In response to this, the people were amazed, and I imagine that part of the amazement was spurred by relief. If you believe God can so easily reject human beings, then there will be a constant uneasiness in regard to whether or not God will soon reject you. So when grace, true grace, is put on display, there is joy-filled amazement. Let’s make sure that we are doing our best to not only put grace on display, but to bring amazement to those who were a bit uneasy in regard to whether or not God would spur and abandon them. God’s grace would never do such a thing.

Prayer: Because the world around us too often suggests that we are not quite good enough, there is a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty that can take hold. Grace-filled God, bring me into an experience of true amazement as I glimpse your grace so generously extended to me and all the world. Amen.

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