Scripture for Your Inner Outcasts

Transcript

Speaker 1: After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to the apostles and the presbyters. My dear brothers, you are well aware that from the early days God made his choice among you, that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them. For by faith he purified their hearts.

Speaker 2: You are listening to Scripture for your inner outcasts. Today is May 7th, 2026, Thursday of the fifth week of Easter. Today we are joined by Pam Malinoski, the integrator for Souls and Hearts.

Speaker 1: Today's reading is from the acts of the apostles, chapter 15, verse 7 to 9. After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to the apostles and the presbyters. My dear brothers, you are well aware that from the early days God made his choice among you, that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them. For by faith he purified their hearts. In this passage from today's first reading, we hear how God is encouraging not just the chosen ones to be his own. We hear how the Gentiles are invited, along with the Jewish, to hear the gospel and believe. It occurred to me that often you exiles are treated like the Gentiles of the Old Testament, rejected and separated from the chosen Israelites. You are often set aside while competent manager parts or reactive firefighter parts. Take front and center within your system. It may feel like you are being hidden away, left alone to carry your burdens of shame. Anger, abandonment, loneliness or grief. In some cases, Gentiles were even treated as enemies of the Israelites. Just like you may feel like enemies of those parts of you trying to appear smart, successful, and holy to the world.

Speaker 1: Today, I want to tell you that it's not the role God intends for you. Instead, he wants to invite you as he invited the Gentiles to not only be one of his beloved children, but also a valuable, important, and beautiful part of your entire system. Even if you currently have a role that no other part in your system likes or appreciates, you are not your role. Often you pick up these burdens of neglect, anger, abandonment, or grief because no one else in your system can you do it to protect your system. You do it so your managers and firefighters can get through daily life, but you are not your role. You are not your burden. You are a beloved part of your system. Just as the Gentiles were beloved to Jesus. When the time is right and good, you can become more integrated into your entire system. Exchanging your burdens for a new, more positive role that can still help your system find the healing and love it needs without having to carry all the burdens alone. Your innermost self is there, calling to you as God called to the Gentiles, to the first apostles, and like many Gentiles, became faithful Christians. I know you are waiting and wanting to be faithful parts of your entire system too.

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Speaker 1: Let's end with our invocations. Our Lady Untier of knots. Pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Saint John the Baptist pray for us.