23 illustrations referencing Leviticus
In The Visitor, Walter Vale—a disconnected economics professor—returns to his New York apartment to find immigrants Tarek and Zainab living there illegally. He could call the police. Instead, he lets
Dear God of Fire and Tenderness, This morning I woke up carrying the weight of a divided world — headlines screaming, neighbors suspicious of neighbors, and my own heart tempted to sort people into categories of worthy and unworthy. Then...
When we open Leviticus, we often brace ourselves — expecting a catalogue of ancient prohibitions, a ledger of who's in and who's out. But tucked into chapter 19, between laws about harvests and honest scales, God slips in something breathtaking:...
Dear God of Love and Justice, Leviticus 19:34 tells us, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." Lord, those words cut straight through every partisan talking...
Lord, I come to You this evening with hands that held a coffee cup all day but never once reached across the distance between me and the person who needed them most. Leviticus 19:34 says it plainly: love the stranger...
When the ancient Israelites heard the command in Leviticus 19:34 — "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt" — God was not asking them to conjure...
Dear God of radical welcome, Leviticus 19:34 commands, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." This morning, before the coffee cools, before the notifications pile up,...
Dear God of Love and Justice, Leviticus 19:34 commands us: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." This is not a suggestion tucked into the margins...
In About Time, Tim discovers he can travel through time. He could use this power for wealth or fame, but he learns its best use: being fully present with the people he loves. His father advises: "Live
In the bustling heart of our cities, where the contrasts of wealth and poverty are laid bare, we often find ourselves grappling with the very essence of Economic Justice and the Kingdom. Imagine, for a moment, a single mother named...
We read Leviticus 19:34 as a profound testament to God's covenantal faithfulness and sovereign grace. The command to love the stranger as oneself finds its fulfillment in Christ, who embodies the true Israel and opens the covenant to all nations. This passage reminds us of our call to reflect God's
We read Leviticus 19:34 through the lens of Law and Gospel. As a command to love the sojourner, this text first functions as Law, exposing our failure to love those who are different from us, hence revealing our sin. Yet, it also points us to Christ, the true Israelite who perfectly fulfills this La
We read Leviticus 19:34 as a profound call to love and treat the stranger as one of our own, reflecting the universal nature of the Church, which is 'catholic' in embracing all humanity. This passage is seen as an Old Testament foundation for the Church's teaching on the dignity of every human perso
We read Leviticus 19:34 as a divine mandate to embrace and love the stranger as one of our own, recognizing the historical and ongoing marginalization of Black people in America. This passage speaks directly to our experience, reminding us that God calls us to extend the same justice and hospitality
As we navigate the turbulent waters of technology and human connection today, we are reminded of the timeless struggle that our biblical ancestors faced. Picture the Israelites wandering through the desert, yearning for community yet confronted by the stark realities...
We read Leviticus 19:34 as a profound command that reflects God's heart for justice and compassion, rooted in His own character. This passage, where God commands Israel to love the stranger as themselves, underscores the continuity of God's moral law, demonstrating His desire for holiness and righte
In a world where social media lights up our nights with curated glimpses into others' lives, the ache for genuine connection can feel more profound than ever. Picture Sarah, a young woman in her twenties, nestled in her small apartment,...
In our modern landscape, where the echoes of unjust leadership resonate deeply, we find ourselves akin to the Israelites trapped under Pharaoh’s oppressive rule. Picture a small community, perhaps like the one you live in—a place where voices have been...
Sarah stood at the crossroads of her faith and her academic pursuits, her heart a battleground. Growing up in a vibrant church community, she had learned about God’s unwavering love and unyielding justice. The hymns echoed in her mind and...
Imagine a bustling city street, filled with the vibrant sounds of life—laughter, chatter, and the honking of horns. In this urban tapestry, hundreds of people weave in and out of each other's lives, each carrying the weight of their own...
In our rapidly changing world, the call to Nonviolent Resistance resonates deeply, inviting us to embody Christ's love in tangible ways. Picture Moses standing boldly before Pharaoh. With the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders, he wielded not...
Teaching on Worship from Gregory of Nazianzus: Gregory of Nazianzus on the Festivals of the Church
God who was once a refugee in Egypt, we pray for those displaced: Families torn apart at borders. Children sleeping in camps. Parents risking everything for safety. You were the stranger. You know t