Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 11

Scripture Reading: Luke 7:1-35

Today, Jesus puts his money where his mouth is!  As we read in the Sermon on the Plain in the previous chapter, Jesus was asking us to love our enemies.  And now, we see a Roman centurion needing his help!  A centurion commanded one hundred soldiers and so had authority over many of those who would have been seen as oppressing Judea.  It would have been very easy to vilify this man and to state that "God's trying to tell you something!"

But we also see Luke's emphasis on the Gospel reaching beyond Judea.  Jesus states about the centurion, "not even in Israel have I found such faith."  God intends to shine a light to all the nations and God is doing so through Jesus.  It is also a reminder that there are good people in all cultures.

As we polarize over politics in the United States, we have seen responses to the pandemic put us in camps.  Progressives see conservatives as ignorant and heartless when it comes to wearing masks.  Conversely, traditionalists see liberals as ignorant and fearful over these same guidelines.

When we align people a certain way in our minds, we have also been willing to cut them out of our hearts as well.  This is dangerous for us as a society, and it is unhealthy for our relationships.  Lest we think that we are unusual and that this is as bad as it's ever been (which is somewhat narcissistic), we see both Jesus and John being rejected for opposite behaviors.

Jesus tried isolation and found
it wasn't going to be his way.

John was more of an ascetic who separated from society.  He fasted and isolated himself for his holiness.  Jesus was one who had table fellowship with all kinds of people.  He feasted and placed himself in relationship with the masses.  

John was said to have a demon and Jesus was called a glutton and a drunk.  In Jewish society in that day, the term for Jesus could be seen simply as foolish, but it can also take a dangerous turn.

Jesus is compassionate to the enemy (centurion) and the poor (widow who just lost her future).  The world doesn't often call this wisdom but maybe during Lent, we can think about adopting foolish behavior.  I pray that it doesn't become dangerous for you!

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, may we remember to see that goodness abounds.  When we encounter people who are different from ourselves, may we look for what we hold in common rather than accentuating the things that separate us.  Let us learn to be respecters of others just as Jesus taught us.  Amen.

Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoi, 1872, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.