If . . . Then What?

It is a weekend about remembering. Remembering. Those who might otherwise be forgotten are remembered. It is good to remember. Remember people. Especially those who for various reasons might otherwise be marginalized.

The passage that Pastor Isaac invites us to reflect upon this week in Luke 17 invites us to remember. Jesus notices those who would otherwise be forgotten, or at least marginalized. In the time of Jesus, Samaritans were those who were marginalized because of their class. Lepers were those who were marginalized because of their condition. Jesus remembered them. They did not go unnoticed. They were included.

This of course did not go over well in the time of Jesus with a great many people. It does not always go over very well today. Yet we are invited to remember. In fact, we are invited to embrace a way of living that remembers. The passage in Philippians reminds us. Listen to the "if" statements there, and what follows them. Remembering makes a difference.

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Luke 17

NIV

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Philippians 2:1-4

The Message

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

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