My friends, as we are presently living in our annual “time of the harvest,” here in Minnesota and across the Midwest, it is appropriate I think that two of our readings are about “banquets” being given. In Isaiah’s reading, we hear about the banquet that our good God is preparing one day for all who choose to attend. Jesus speaks about a wedding feast that is being prepared. Now, if we were to stop there, with, “banquets being prepared,” we would miss the beauty and challenge of these readings.
So, friends, as always, we must go deeper. We are told that the “wedding feast” that Jesus speaks of in his parable is not so much “a place” as an “attitude.” Our God “plays” the part of the host at this feast. God has first of all given each of us the gift of life, our human existence, coming into this life as spiritual people. Matthew Fox has spoken of it rightly in saying that each of us is “an original blessing,” not “a sin,” as the powers-that-be have insisted for too long.
Going back then to the wedding feast images, we need to understand that “the garment” we are asked to wear is our “attitudes” toward the rest of creation; beginning with the fact that, “all are welcome,” here, now, to attend the feast! – we used to believe something along those lines here in this country. Next comes the attitudes needed to live peacefully with all others “invited to the feast,” mercy, justice, long-suffering, and patience, to name a few.
Earlier I said that we, each of us, as spiritual people, are here to experience what it is to be human. Those of us with a good many years under our belts know that while this human experience can bring many joys, it can bring heartache too, as things happen that we wouldn’t necessarily choose, but for lack of a better explanation, are simply part of life. It is our task then to strive to balance our spiritual and human selves, becoming throughout our lives the best that we are capable of. That is really what God’s invitation is all about.
And if you are thinking, “this is easier said than done,” you would be right. Our psalm response today that you all sang so beautifully, “Shepherd me O’ God, from all my wants, from all my fears, from death into life,” states well I think, the dilemma we often find ourselves in as we try to balance our human and spiritual selves. Our “wants” and our “fears” are two very strong emotions that keep us, at times, from being our best selves.
My second mother in life, Margaret, often expressed the 1st emotion well, in the form of a question: “How much do I want, and how much do I need? If more in this world chose their needs over their wants in a more balanced way, there would be enough for all to simply live, rather than die for lack of the basics.
Fear is something that often keeps us from saying and doing that which needs to be said and done in our needy world. “What would people think?” What indeed, for us who claim to be Christians! I can remember times in my life when people thanked me for saying what they were afraid to say; so, we shouldn’t always think that the response from others will be negative.
Paul’s response to the Philippians today should encourage us in our fears; [whether low or high, poor or rich, hungry or full], “I can do all things through the One who gives me strength.” And Isaiah in today’s 1st reading would seem to affirm this: “Adonai is the One in whom we hoped.”
Today’s liturgy uses the beautiful 23rd psalm, loved by many, and used through time to speak of the loving care of our God. The modern translation of this psalm in The Message, reminds us that our God, “chases after us” all the days of our lives until we are home, once more, in the full company of God. I think it is good for us to think about a God who would “chase after us.” If nothing else, this should tell us that our God “never gives up on us,” even when we might give up on ourselves or others.
My friends, our world today is fraught with so much darkness needing our light – seemingly endless wars, those in power who have forgotten that the office calls for service, greed in too many, when sharing would bring more happiness not only for others, but for themselves, the abuse of one [1] by seven [7] that also raises the double-standard in this country regarding gender – if the tables were turned, 7 women raping 1 man, this issue would have been handled immediately, not hidden.
But lest we end on a negative note, I would remind us of the Alleluia verse today: “Creator God, enlighten the eyes of our “hearts” that we may know the hope that belongs to our call.” Notice please, that this prayer asks that our “hearts” be enlightened. It isn’t enough that our minds be enlightened, in that we “know” something has happened that is wrong, but that our hearts are enlightened, in that we can feel the pain of another. In fact, our hearts really need to be broken open, which is a much harder task. Once our hearts break open over the ills we witness in our world, it will be much, much harder to let fear get in the way of speaking the words, doing the actions that are needed to better our world. Amen? Amen!
