So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.’” vss. 9-10
2 Kings 5:9-15c
When the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus in their synagogue, he reminded them that even though there were many lepers in Israel at the time of Elisha, none were healed except Naaman the Syrian. His reminder did not heal the rift! Instead, his neighbors tried to kill him! They didn’t like the idea that God violated the religious and racial boundaries that they had constructed through the centuries. But that’s what Jesus felt called to do, and that’s what has continued to happen through history. God simply doesn’t respect the artificial barriers that we put up between ourselves and others. God’s healing and grace are experienced among people of every folk and nation, not just those that artificially label themselves as Christian. All the people of the earth have a common heritage and share a kinship that goes beyond skin color and social status. Through the centuries we’ve worked hard to show that our particular group or order is superior, and because we belong, we’re better than any others. And that’s all just so wrong! In the eyes of God we are all the same, and God loves us all! God just doesn’t have favorites!
Thought for the Day: What people do I feel superior to?
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