for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet, Elijah was
not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also
many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman,
the Syrian.”
On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him
out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down
the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.
Reflect
It seems like every group of people divides into insiders and outsiders. It happens in countries,
community organizations, and even families and churches. Some people are welcomed into
the heart of the group while others are excluded or kept at a distance.
Scripture makes it clear that such division is not God’s way. He has performed miracles for those
on the outside, like Naaman and the widow of Zarephath. Throughout his public ministry, Jesus
reached out to those on the margins of Israelite society – foreigners, Samaritans, tax collectors,
public sinners, the poor. Jesus calls his followers to do the same.
How often do we reach out to those outside our usual social groups? How often do we welcome
new members into those groups? How do our actions promote division rather than unity in our
families, playing one member against another? How do we help to make our communities safe
places for those who feel rejected or different? Jesus asks us to ponder these questions and to
open our hearts to all our brothers and sisters.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023