LUKE 4: 21-30

Laterally Luke…Epiphany 4…Revised 2019

Jesus’ exposition of IS that enrages those in the synagogue centres on pointing out  one of Israel’s failures. Exclusiveness. The Sidonian woman & Syrian man He draws attention to each represent different ends of the human scale. The woman - give her a name & let’s call her, say, ‘Sida’, is poor, foreign, & a widow. The man, Naaman - note how he’s given a name - is powerful, foreign, a General, a ‘leper’, & therefore outcast & untouchable! Add to all this that one is a woman, the other a man! Why does Jesus hold up these two, different as chalk from cheese as they are, to His hearers attention?

Because these two from Elijah’s, & Elisha’s times are lessons for us all - not just for that audience in that synagogue at Nazareth! (1) Both then &, now, all genders are equal in YHWH’s eyes; (2) The poor & down at heel count as much as the rich & powerful in YHWH’s eyes; (3) That there is no such person as an outcast, anyone untouchable in YHWH’s eyes; (4) Being other than home-grown Jewish is also OK with YHWH. What are the implications of His teaching here & now for us in our churches?

Jesus is preaching a lesson in God’s inclusiveness. His hearers, I’m sure, get these points only too well! And don’t like them! Or Jesus, anymore! They don’t want these kinds of attitudes taking hold, coming true today - or any other day. It's all right as long as Jesus sticks to the text, but once He starts applying it, & wanting them to do the same, out he goes! Is it still the case in congregations today? In ours?

Are we preaching - & practising - as inclusive a God as Jesus is preaching YHWH?  Is inclusiveness as much on our agenda as it is on God’s? It’s inevitable there will be differences of opinion in Faith & politics & other spheres of life, but how are we to handle those ‘intersections’? Are we seeking to discern our way through the issues involved, under the guidance of Holy Spirit, Jesus’ Spirit? One way we may be helped discern God’s ‘mind’ on such relationships may be to invite the congregation to reflect on how their families & friends are responding to people who are ‘different’ in our midst.

Brian 

Afterthought: One thing that appeals to me about Jesus’ approach to people is that He doesn’t see, or teach, that God's loving purpose is a closed shop! No-one can put a stopper on God’s love. YHWH’s loving purpose is still unfolding, & always will be. Our calling is to find out where we - & others, even those as different from us as Sida & Naaman & what they represent - fit into God’s purpose. Isn’t that a top priority in any preacher's task?