Lent Day 39: April 6--Good Friday

Lenten Reflection for Day 39

Date: April 6, 2012, Good Friday

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage: Luke 10:8–12 (NRSV)

⁸ Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; ⁹ cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’¹⁰ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’¹² I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Reflection: In this Good Friday text, we listen to Jesus’ advice to the Seventy disciples as they prepare to go out into the world, two by two, to preach the “good news” about the Kingdom of God.

For us 21^st century Christians, Jesus invites us to be hospitable to the strangers in our midst. And who may that stranger be? I think it goes beyond being kind to those sometimes “pesky” missionary Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who occasionally bang on our doors. After all, aren’t they just 21^st century versions of the Seventy sent out by Jesus? Unfortunately, modern day culture has taught us to be suspicious of strangers and those folks who may be different from us in dress, language, culture, or appearance. These folks just may be “angels in disguise” or just may give us a quick glimpse of the “kingdom of God.” As we reflect on Jesus’ death this Good Friday morning, remember the forsaken outcast, a stranger to his people, who gave marvelous signs of the Kingdom of God, yet we all chose to ignore Him.

We need to welcome the stranger, whether that person is new to our neighborhood, our school or work (or play!), or our faith community. We think this morning on all those strangers who have become good friends and neighbors. We welcome their diversity of thought and traditions and their ability to help us see “God’s Kingdom” through new eyes.

Prayer: Dear God, I know what it is like to be a “stranger in a strange land.” Help me to welcome the stranger in our midst and to see Your Kingdom anew in that person. Amen.