February 19, 2005	Read Matthew 8: 5-13
“Many will come from the east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (vv. 11-12)
A LIGHT FOR ALL This reading shows what Jesus’ mission was --- and what it was not. Many were looking for a warrior-king Messiah who would defeat the Romans militarily. By healing the servant of a Roman centurion, Jesus clearly demonstrates that he has come to save any and all (even the hated Romans) who accept his salvation. He demonstrates that he has not come to liberate the Jews from Roman domination. He simultaneously rejects the belief of many that they can achieve salvation through adherence to the law; he explicitly states that sole reliance on the law will not result in salvation. In doing so, he sets up an inevitable confrontation with the power structure of the Jerusalem temple, one that will ultimately result in his death. His subsequent Resurrection offers salvation to all. Jesus advocates a fundamental reversal of the purpose of faith: Instead of following a prescribed behavior and believing that sufficient study can thoroughly illuminate that behavior, he says acceptance of God’s grace through Christ is key. He also rejects the belief that God’s grace is only for lineal descendants from a given progenitor and instead teaches that anyone who believes in Christ can be saved by him. This changes the mission of the church from exclusionary to inclusionary and outreaching. Verses 11 and 12, quoted above, declare that many who will become Christians will come from outside the Jewish faith.   God, help us to reach out to all who are in need of salvation through Christ. Help us to look not only within our zone of cultural familiarity, but also outside that. Ted J. Vlamis

---

[Yesterday |Lenten Index | Tomorrow]