Do I dare do what the synagogue official did that day that Paul was in the congregation, ask is there anyone among us who has a word of exhortation for the rest of us to hear? Would anyone like to speak in response to the Scriptures that have been proclaimed for us today?
Paul did not hesitate. He proceeded to give an entire history of the Jewish people, how God chose them to be his people, their refusal to embrace the prophets and the messages they shared about the One who was to come, how he came and though put to death, rose from the dead and lives on in the lives of his followers.
It would be interesting to hear from some of us. Who is God for us? Some of us may even have a story to tell like Paul’s story, a life that was fragile, flawed and in many ways wrong about a lot of things and yet was still accepted and embraced by a merciful God. Paul’s story influenced the lives of so many because so many could identify with him.
Some of us would probably identify more with the words of John when asked. Who do you suppose I am. I am not that one. I’m not that holy, that good, kind, generous, no not me I would not consider myself worthy to be one of his associates and yet he came after me, he sought me out, he embraced me. I am not worthy of him but he makes me want to be worthy of him and so I try.
Others among us were they to speak would probably echo what we heard the psalmist say today, forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. He has love us and freed us from our sins by his blood.
Jesus himself had words of inspiration for us today. Embrace humility and remember that He is to increase, and we are to decrease; learn from his gesture of washing another’s feet and put into practice what we believe, service to others is unconditional for a follower of Jesus.
Lastly, we could ask ourselves today and every day, what can I do or say that sends a gospel message to others today?
