Luke 14:15-23
There is an episode of the original Star Trek that featured Frank Gorshin as a (vertically) half white - half black man ( think black and white cookies ). His name was Bele and the target of his anger was another half black - half white man named Loci. Loci had the misfortune of being inferior if not evil by virtue of the fact that his colors were reversed from that of Bele (and the reverse of most of the others of Bele's race). It was a groundbreaking episode.
I recall a friend of mine who celebrated with great joy with me when marriage equality in New York was achieved. When the subject of equal rights for the "BT&Q" of LGBTQ was brought up, it seemed to be a repulsive topic. Not them! The energy for equality wained in my friend even though there is quite a bit of work and effort that needs to be expended to achieve universal equality.
They say Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian Denomination in the United states, followed immediately by the second largest which is non - practicing Catholics. Have you ever run across a Roman Catholic who would look down ferociously at someone who isn't as scrupulous about every aspect of their faith? A pastor of mine was brought to task once for a rather small infraction involving the consecration. Back in the day the celebrants hands had to be at specific angles (pitch and yaw) to allow the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. I suppose it was not unlike the nuns back in the day who admonished us kids to form perfectly formed hands when we prayed in order that the prayers reach God.
I am certain there are millions of examples of people who even among their own little clique, have reasons to look down on someone or even a group. Some are disliked for factual reasons while others are disliked for trumped up reasons or outright bigotry. We see it all the time. If you don't, it's time to take a step back and think about it at length. That's why the Bele-Loci episode of Star Trek was so ground breaking. It heightened awareness and raised conscienceness.
In todya's passage the host welcomed all the right people as any of us would do when holding a party. We come up with a guest list of those that we like or wish to celebrate with. When Jesus walked the earth he came for the redemption of Israel. He quickly expanded that to all sorts of people. Probably those people would not be the ones we would be inviting to our own party either. God welcomes everyone. In this passage God is envisioned as compelling people to come in, as in total strangers. Lord! What kind of riff raff will show up!
Here's a chance to think of all the riff raff, the faulty Catholics, The Loci's of the world, the gays, Muslims, Jews and any array of sinners. The will be welcome, scratch that. They are welcome at God's table. It is up to us to welcome them.
One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.
No comments:
Post a Comment