A God for All

Gospel: Luke 4: 24-30

The greatest error in religion is in thinking that God is only for me and my particular group of people, whether that people be an ethnic group, religious sect, or political party.  Crimes of the worst sort have been inflicted on other people because of this false belief.  In today's Gospel, Jesus' own home town was on the verge of committing just such an act against him - all because Jesus insisted that God cares for all people, not just those we favor.

Throughout the ancient world, however, this idea of a god who favors a particular people was a persistent belief.  The origin stories they tell speak only of their particular people, not anyone else.  But Jesus reminds us that our origin story is that of the entire human race - that everyone is created in God's image and likeness, everyone is a temple of the Holy Spirit, everyone is another Christ, not just my own people.  The days of rival gods and factions is over.  

Yet, we continue to persist in this false belief up to the present day.  It is little wonder that many walk away from religion altogether as the theologies of hate and division ravage the earth and leave a trail of bloodshed and misery in their wake.  In this time, we must continue to uphold the vision of Jesus, the vision of God for all, mercy and love for all, and to provide healing, deliverance, and nourishment to all as he did.