Jesus wanted to show the people that he was doing something new and exciting, even though it didnt quite fit what some observant Jews were expecting. Surely many people wondered who this upstart was to upset the status quo. But Jesus simply went about his business preaching the good news, healing the sick, and delivering the oppressed.
Jesus wasnt trying to upset anyone by breaking with the practice of rigorous fasting that was common among the more devoted Jews. No, he was demonstrating what life should be like now that he, the Bridegroom, had come and ushered in the kingdom of God. Sure, it seemed risky not to rely on observations like fasting. Many people preferred to stick with the safe way they had learned from their ancestors. Better that than take a chance on an uncharted path of deeper faith and greater intimacy with God.
In a similar way, God has been doing something new recently in the body of Christ: He has been drawing together the divided churches and helping them overcome painful, centuries-old prejudices and animosities. Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists are coming to agreement on the term justification by faith. Orthodox and Catholics are beginning to talk about the Eucharist and the role of the pope. Even Catholics and Evangelicals are putting aside their suspicions of each other and working together to promote a culture of life. So much has changed in the past couple of decades, and God is inviting all of us to embrace these changes as part of his wonderful plan.
As members of the body of Christ, we may still disagree with each other on issues like the papacy, the role of Mary, and the nature of the Eucharist. But we all agree on so much more: a loving, Trinitarian God; salvation in Christ; the gift of the Holy Spirit; the call to conversion and baptism; and the promise of heaven. Instead of focusing on what divides us, lets focus on what we have in common.
All this week, as representatives from the different churches meet to pray together, lets ask the Lord to soften our hearts and to help open us up to this new way that the Holy Spirit is moving.
Lord, may we all be one!
1 Samuel 15:16-23; Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23