By Rev Tom Cant

But, again, Luke changes the significance of these infirmities and makes them the very signs of those who are now called to the feast.

This parable transforms human standards and boldly declares the will and purpose of God to find the least, the lost and the last.

Luke’s gospel offers everyone the open door into God’s kingdom.

As Willie Barclay wrote,‘All barriers are down, Jesus Christ is for everyone without distinction’.

The enmity of the Jews for the Samaritans was harsh,‘The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans’(John 4.9.

But Jesus gives credit to the Samaritan people.

When ten lepers are healed, only one returns to thank Jesus, and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17.11-19).

Then we read that glorious parable of the Good Samaritan

(Luke 10.30-37).

Others are included. The gentile Roman centurion is praised (Luke 7.9).

Finally, Luke shows Jesus as the friend of the outcast and marginalised (Luke 15.1-2).

Everyone is different through colour, creed and race. But there is a deeper difference.

Each individual is a different person. Every fingerprint is different,

So, if the outer surface of the skin is different, then how much more is the inner difference of mind and character, of heart and soul..

But, within every person’s unique individuality there runs a common unifying characteristic.

There is the personal experience of our human vulnerability, our exposure to life’s ills and torments, and our threat from life’s hurts and wounds.

Most people simply accept things as they are with a‘that’s life’shrug of the shoulders. But God offers everyone a better way.

God’s better way in Jesus gives us personal fulfilment .

God makes us perfect as God is perfect (Matthew 5.48).

The Greek word for‘perfect’is ‘telios’. It means end, but also fulfilment, completeness and maturity.

God wants us to be mature and complete, just like himself.

This same idea of wholeness and maturity is found in Ephesians. The gifts of God through the Holy Spirit are given,‘Until (in order that) we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood (personal and spiritual adulthood) to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4. 12-13).

In and through Jesus Christ, God makes us strong.‘I can do all things in Jesus who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4.13).

This is the message of Luke’s universal gospel.

In Luke’s gospel, the all-sufficient Jesus strides into our 21st century .

In Luke’s gospel, the all-supreme Jesus personally encounters us (Luke 5.1-11).

The reliable Jesus helps us to stay calm when surrounded by chaos (Luke 8.22-25).

The Easter Jesus shares with us these life and death moments (Luke 7.11-17).

The wise Jesus can assure us in these doubting moments when we wonder what our life is all about (John 3.1-2).

Jesus, the tradesman, can survive the workaday world.‘Is not this the carpenter’s son?’(Mark 6.3).

Let Jesus walk with you along the pathway of your life.

He will make your way into his Emmaus road.

Let Jesus come into your heart as these men brought Jesus into their home.

‘Did not our hearts burn as He talked to us along the road (Luke 24.32).