A Prophet from Galilee

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” John 7:37-52 

We all know where the cool places are, and the less than respectable places are in our communities. People always feel the need to look down on others and pity them. The fanciest places in our country are gated and guarded, the poorer places wide open. The place where my parents lived and owned a home was once looked down upon and thought of as less worthy. We were sandpipers. Now it has been discovered by the wealthy and is considered posh. And all the comfy homes and cottages are considered perfect teardowns. Jesus came from a place of perfect teardowns and sandpipers, a place of unskilled ones who get their livelihoods by scampering along the water's edge. No prophet was thought to be able to arise from there. Yet. he came and was the Savior of the world. From humble and rejected places come God's greatest gifts.

Wise and gentle Creator, source of knowledge

you amaze us with the comets in night's sky

teach us when we are surely lacking and afraid

and bring healing from our most humble places.

Help us see your face in the world around us

help us not shun the simple but look with expectation

knowing you are always walking with the poor

and making your place with the poor and prisoners. Amen.