For the past few months, I’ve been doing two online classes guided by Tim Mackie from the Bible Project covering the first seven chapters of Matthew’s gospel.
In one sense, we encountered familiar stories and verses even non-Christians know something about. In another sense, the studies are dense and deep, frankly beyond my ability to assimilate entirely.
The seven chapters relate Matthew’s account of Jesus’ origin story and the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Summarizing so much material in a short space would be a silly exercise, but I was left with a single enduring idea, which I tried to capture in yesterday’s quote.
When Jesus said, “Follow me,” he was walking toward the margins not the mansions.
I thought about this today while I was riding my bike. On one of the trails, I encountered a handful of homeless folks. I cranked on past them, because I wasn’t sure what else to do, but for several miles I asked myself what Jesus would have done.
In our city, as in many places, groups of homeless people are considered a “problem.” The biggest concern seems to be making sure they end up somewhere we don’t have to see them.
I didn’t see a problem – I saw individuals with needs and issues I’m not sure how to address. I was afraid to stop, not because I feared them but because I felt inadequate. I didn’t know what to say or what to do – so I just kept going.
Our city has amazing programs and nonprofits who do remarkable, creative work helping these folks address their immediate needs as well as long-term solutions. The easy thing, I suppose, is to simply donate to those organizations. But – I said earlier that I rode a few miles wondering how Jesus would have handled that encounter.
I don’t think he would have simply passed by.