Radical Welcome of All, and Healing in Relationship

We are created to be fully alive, and every human being yearns to be free from that which keeps us from being in life giving relationship with others and with the Divine Life.

There is  a story in the Gospel of a person sick with leprosy and therefore a rejected social outcast who hears of Jesus and comes to Him for healing. 

The radical welcome of Jesus Christ

This is not only a story of a physical illness, it is a story about social rejection. 

All of the most socially diseased are invited and welcome to come to Jesus Christ.

Not just the person with leprosy, but the…

• the alcoholic
• the person addicted to narcotics
• the sexual sinner
• the woman beater
• the person wanted by the police
• the thief
• the person suffering from depression
• the mentally challenged
• etc

People who are socially difficult to be around and may make many folk uncomfortable are invited and welcome to come to Jesus, to come to the loving relationships within the church.

There is healing in relationship

When we make people welcome, there is healing.

When we accept people even in the mess that they may be in, there is healing.

There is healing in the embrace of the saint.

There is healing in the embrace of the sinner.

Once we come to know the Risen Christ ourselves, His Love and acceptance, then we will have a desire to love and embrace not only every human being, but especially those who are marginalized for whatever reason.

The enthusiasm of Love

The leaper, after being loved, accepted, and healed, cannot contain himself.

There is enthusiasm after the encounter with the divine love revealed in Christ.

There is enthusiasm after encountering love and relationship.

There is an enthusiasm that wants to tell everyone about the power of Jesus Christ to heal and set free.

The truth is that if we know the Christ Life, we will be enthusiastic and committed to the mission of making that Life known to others.

Our Mission

As we come to know more and more the power of the Love of Christ in our own lives, let us do our part in inviting and welcoming into the life of the Church those around us who are most in need.

And let us embrace one another with Christ’s love and real relationship.

And let us continue on the healing journey together with Him.