Jeff's Journal

Please read Mark 1:40-45

Outcasts.

   When you hear that word, who do you think about?

   Jesus deals with officially designated outcasts in today's text.

      The lepers were considered unclean

         and thus were prevented from participating in religious

         rituals and ceremonies.

Outcasts. Kicked out of the church because

   of something they could not control and for which

   there was no cure.

In addition, they could not participate in society in general.

   Often they were banned to live in a cave outside of a village.

Today, who qualifies as an outcast?

   Some may say, "Well we have laws to prevent such exclusion."

   Yes, but one can be an outcast standing in the midst of the crowd.

   Permitted to be there, to participate, but not fully welcomed and

     incorporated into the life of the community or free to use the gifts

     they have been given to contribute to the world.

Who is an outcast in your way of seeing things?

   Is it related to disease, disfigurement, mental retardation, mental illness,

      age (youth or senior citizens), criminals, ex-cons, the poor, the rich,

      politics, certain religious traditions, atheists, race, personality,

      recent immigrants. Who is it for you?

When the leper came to Jesus he drew a circle that welcomed him in.

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff