Margins of our Relationships - November 13

AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82; Joel 2:12-19; Rev. 19:11-21; Luke 15:1-10

And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ These words capture the radical inclusivity of Jesus—a bold call to embrace that society often rejects. Jesus lived on the margins, and his open arms toward sinners and the marginalized have challenged each generation since. His example has inspired faith traditions to advocate for refugees, immigrants, those suffering from addiction or mental illness, and, in recent decades, the LGBT+ community. The call to radical inclusion has often caused the Pharisees and scribes to grumble—a reminder that a faith community is likely moving in the right direction.

In the past week, I’ve seen numerous examples of people expressing a desire to cut others out of their lives over perceived differences—whether in viewpoints, political affiliations, or personal choices that feel deeply unsettling. Perhaps it’s exhaustion, perhaps grief. While I don’t want to diminish anyone’s pain, I wonder if people can be marginalized even within our own relationships. Could it be that someone we regard as privileged in many ways might still exist in the margins of our lives?

Jesus made it clear: the second greatest commandment, after love of God, is to love one another (Matthew 22:36-40). I’ve always thought this commandment was emphasized because it’s essential to faith. Today, I wonder if it also holds this place of prominence because it’s profoundly difficult to live out.

How can you and I pay more attention to those on the fringes of our relationships? If someone at the edges of our lives speaks of hurt, we should probably listen. And if we’ve pushed someone out, we should pay attention to that, too. Jesus calls us to an ethic of inclusion. If it were easy, we wouldn’t need a Savior.

Faithfully,

John+