“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. 2 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.”
3 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.
