Monday, December 17, 2018

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.
Hebrews 13: 11-12

The Dr. Suess book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” makes a popular gift at graduation from nursery school, high school, or college. I think it makes a wonderful gift for baptism or confirmation, too, because when a person becomes part of Christ’s body, one never knows “the places you’ll go” with Jesus.

In today’s passage from Hebrews, I am reminded that God sends his followers into all sorts of places, even “the prickle-ly places.” Jesus “suffered outside the (holy) city gate” of Jerusalem, which tells me he ventured often into the most unholy places, where he hung out with outcasts, sinners, and those “left in a Lurch” by poverty, hunger, homelessness, sickness, addiction, natural disaster, racial profile, violence and abuse, family separation, or unjust government policy.

A take away lesson is to step outside the protective gates, walls, and doors of our churches and homes, to join with Jesus and the most vulnerable ones around us, serving with the love and gentleness of the Savior. When we do, it brings much needed hope to the despairing, and a renewed sense they are not alone… that God is with us.

“Oh, the places you’ll go” with Jesus.

Dear Jesus, lead me and guide me outside my zones of my comfort, my ranks of my privilege, and my walls of isolation, that I may join with you today to bring good news to those caught in prickle-ly places or left in a lurch. Amen.

The Rev. Julie Bergdahl serves as Pastor of St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sellersville, PA, and recently organized a summer project with 18 congregations in Upper Bucks county and Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA to supply household items to families relocated to PA after Hurricane Maria destroyed their homes and communities in Puerto Rico.

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