Jesus’s message of restoration buts up against his critique of the status quo. Now, he invites us to see that faith can save us; and we can save faith.
as the space between us narrows so do our excuses
Proper 23C
Luke 17:11-19
by the Rev. Drew Downs
Jesus is walking between two lands: Samaria and Galilee. Think about that. Between.
When my family drives up to Michigan and we get to the welcome to Michigan sign, we cheer. We’re getting close to grandparents. But that line is clear. One side is Indiana. The other side is Michigan.
When we go north to Alpena I always point out the 45th Parallel sign. Every time. The kids love it. I’m a broken record. On the one side, we’re closer to the equator, then suddenly, {Bam!} we’re closer to the North Pole. It’s like its magic!
We have taken for granted that our world is divided up just like this. Each bit of physical space is taken up and possessed by somebody or something. Our borders but up against another border. We stake down markers if not fences and walls to define them. This here is my territory. On the other side, there is yours.
This week we saw what happens when a nation moves across one of these borders when Turkey attacked Syria. Even if one is trying to claim some bit of land is rightfully theirs at some point in time, someone else has it on their side of the fence. So, of course, guns and bombs.
In our modern world, everything, even the natural order of the world is bound by these borders.
But in a world before countries (what we call nation-states), there was literally unoccupied land. Or perhaps, disputed or shared land. The land outside of cities and fortresses, unless vigorously defended, is not really anyone’s. It exists between…
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