“How would Jesus have responded to Covid19?” It is a question that came to my mind the other day and immediately my mind went to many stories in the Gospels. Here is one of them:

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.  (Matthew 8:1-3)

I’m not proposing we throw away our masks and forget social distancing, this challenge speaks to much more than that. For Jesus to touch a leper He did much more than take a risk with a highly contagious disease, He crossed cultural boundaries and took perceived human risks to express grace, love and welcome on behalf of the Father. I believe that is the mission we’ve been called to as well, it is where light shines brightest in this dark world.

Keep an eye out, on Sunday I will be posting our plans to re-open church and allow everyone who wishes to meet safely to worship together for the first time here for a long, long time. I hope and pray you will be able to join with us.