For the Sake of the Gentiles

At my first international church convention, the major issue was whether to join the World Council of Churches. A later Canada-wide convention would debate the ordination of women. Another convention debated the place of the gay community in the church. In each instance, the leaders of the church, both lay and clergy, spoke with concern and conviction.

So it was with the church in Jerusalem, which met to deal with whether the church should accept Gentiles. The decision to accept them was momentous. Peter would lead the church in Jerusalem, Paul would share the good news to Jews and Gentiles throughout the empire.

A teacher in Quebec was asked to do the Christmas program. She said she would do so only if it would be about Jesus. The school had a mix of foreign students and teachers. The night arrived. The wise men from the east were students from India, Pakistan and Iran. Mary and Joseph were Jewish. When asked how Jewish students could be asked to be in the pageant, the teacher said, “I thought Mary, Joseph and Jesus were Jewish.”

We need to be reminded that this is a Jewish event and we Gentiles are welcome.

O God, help us to remember that you love all people of all countries in the world, especially boys and girls of every nation and colour. Amen. — SN