Surprise!

2 Kings 5:1-14

Reflection:

            Surprising and unfair. I would use these two words to describe God’s love in the world. Interestingly, these two words are often two sides of the same coin. God’s love always seems to come unexpectedly. The only difference is, if it’s you and “your” people who are on the receiving end, you would say that you are pleasantly surprised. If it’s those whom you judge to be unfit, then you would say you are UNpleasantly surprised. It is unfair.

            How has God surprised you in the past? Is it surprising for you that God’s wills the salvation of Gentiles as well as Jews? (It was surprising for the Jews). Is it surprising for you that God chose to come in the form of a human? (It was surprising for the people of Jesus’ time). Is it surprising for you that there are Palestinian Christians who suffer along with their Muslim neighbors? (This often surprises many people). And last, is it surprising for you that God’s children come in every shade of skin tone, speak every language imaginable, and worship in ways very different than you? (This surprised me when I first traveled to Papua New Guinea).

Indeed, it seems that the Christian life is always one of surprise. God never stops expanding our horizons and encouraging us to view the world through the inclusiveness of love rather than the exclusiveness so typical to human thinking.

Ah, if only we could have the mind of God – none of this would be surprising. None of it would seem unfair.

Prayer: God of limitless love, give us your mind and your heart today, that we might greet every new face as a child of God. Amen.