Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The voice said to him again, a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, May 5, 2022
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
This text makes me sad and makes my heart sing at the same time. It is a pivotal moment for Peter who was faced with a choice—continue to bring the people of Israel into the family of Christ, or open the doors for all people to engage fully in Christ’s salvation. To this point, Peter was open to having Gentiles hear and receive Jesus’ words, but they still were not welcome to participate fully with the Jews. Gentiles were still unclean, as they engaged in unclean activities regularly, like eating foods that were unclean.
God had other ideas. In a vision, God indicated that Peter was no longer to exclude Gentiles from participating fully in the things of Christ. Peter himself was directed to eat unclean food, and in doing so would either spoil himself or fully accept those unlike himself. Peter understood God’s words and from that point on, Peter taught and preached full inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of Christ.
What makes this bittersweet for me is that in 2022, people still find too many reasons to exclude those considered unclean. Others are excluded for their color, their poverty, their sexuality and gender identity, their age, and even their size. My heart hurts knowing there are still people content to object to others. But my heart warms knowing that God’s words have not changed, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” These are words worth fighting for.
