Richard Taliaferro: Follow Me

Folks,

We can use Luke 4:14 as a basis for a geater effort to open up our church to all. Many of the poor, emphasized in this story of Jesus, want more than a handout they want hands out in greeting. The traditional English and Episcopal concept of the parish is that it is to be a microcosm of the community. If we make baptism and church membership more "user-friendly," we are more likely to be able to embrace the poor and free the oppressed in our communities. When Jesus called his disciples, he did not subject them to a lengthy and diffcult process of inclusion. The Gospels tell us that Jesus said "Follow me," knowing that as they followed him, they would gradually develop in their faith.

Richard Taliaferro