DEACON ALAN LAYDEN’S HOMILIES

09/02/2007

Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

There is another part of today’s readings, primarily in the Gospel, that I wanted to mention today… If you think about it, doesn’t it seem odd that Jesus is worrying about the seating arrangements in a Pharisees’ house?  First off, the people that we would expect to see Jesus eating with aren’t even expected to found eating this Sabbath dinner especially in this setting, in a Pharisees’ house.  They would have been excluded from this high meal, in this distinguished setting, because their social or physical condition would have labeled them (falsely, I might add) as unclean.  As sinners!

I don’t think that Jesus has taken on a new ministry.  Assuming the roll of social consultant to the rich and famous.  Advising the upwardly mobel on what it takes to get ahead, while avoiding public and personal embarrassment.  And, he truly is not giving them that vital piece of information that will enhance them in their moment of glory.  No, he is doing what he has done all along the way  … teaching his disciples .. and us … to be truly humble .  He is asking us to put aside ambition for worldly honors and walk humbly by his side, as Catholic Christians in today’s world. 

Now, I don’t think either, that Jesus is suggesting that we work less hard in school or at our work place.  The Honor Roll is a good thing, in that it validates the learning process, and we all need to learn, every day, all the time.  I also believe that Jesus desires that we work diligently at our jobs, even accepting complements graciously, for the good things that we do.   Most importantly, I think that Jesus wants us to develop our talents as best as we can, for they are gifts.  They are gifts from God that will not only benefit us, but also our community, when they are used for the benefit of the whole community.  Truly, Jesus is reminding us, that behind all our attempts to work hard and do good for others, we must reflect on our reasons for doing what we do. As Christians we try to share the gifts of life we have. Not so that we stand out, but so that others can stand up with us, to relish life in all its beauty and celebrate the God who has blessed us.

There, I mentioned our gifts again, you know, using our gifts for the benefit of our community. Yes, our time, and our talents.  And yes, somehow I am going to weave the thought of our treasure, you know, just a dollar more each week, into being a humble Christian in today’s world.  Which brings us to that final thought.  Being involved…

One of the things the homilist is asked to do by the church, is to reflect on how the scriptural message, especially the gospel message, is being carried out in the community.  I was on vacation last week and took a quick look at how another community is working at carrying out this message.  Well, actually just one individual and hopefully I am incorrect in my assessment, or if I am correct, possibly we can pray that this individual will become bored with his new life and return to a more wholesome one.

As I said, we were on vacation and I had to go into a store to get a couple of necessities.  Marlene and the dogs had to wait (more like bake) in the truck and we both chaffed over the length of time the clerk spent with the customer just ahead of me in the check out stand. As this customer went on and on about his happiness in his retirement.  He had taken off his watch! Time was no longer of any importance!  He had dropped out!  And then off he went in his spiffy new exercise outfit, to get into a new black Lincoln Navigator and drive off. 

When I got back to the truck Marlene inquired as to the nature of the discussion she had observed and after I filled her in on what had transpired, she commented that our retired gentleman needed to come back to life and renew the registration on the SUV as the tags where past due since April 2007.  So busy being retired that he had removed himself from the responsibilities of paying his fair share of the road tax for that SUV, or had, at least, neglected to affix the current tag.

Now what does that have to do with our reading today?  Think about it!  Let’s go back to the seating arrangements in that Pharisees house. There may not have been place cards, but you can be sure that the people had their assigned places. Jesus has turned the tables on his host even before the meal has started and become the host himself. He has suggested a change in the rigid seating arrangements and instructed people about the seats they had chosen or would like to choose.  

Remember that this is a Sabbath meal, and as I stated, the very people Jesus says we should be inviting to a "banquet" are those who would have been excluded from this Sabbath meal, at this distinguished Pharisee’s home, and possibly from the synagogue itself. Again, because of the mistaken thought that their social or physical condition would have labeled them as sinners.  Some times we exclude ourselves too, don’t we?

But this Sabbath meal is called to be a place that celebrates God’s choice in picking an enslaved people and God’s gift of liberation for them. When God came to them, the Israelites were slaves. God reversed their condition and invited them to the table. The Sabbath meal not only celebrates God’s gracious actions on their behalf, but it also reminds them, and us, that they were to do for others exactly what had been done for them: free the enslaved; welcome the stranger; care for the children and protect the widows.  Become involved in the real world!

Now, I am sure Jesus doesn’t want us to stop having those meals and sharing special occasions with those who are nearest and dearest to us. That’s not what he means when he turns to the Pharisee who is hosting him, and the guests and tells them to invite those to lunch or dinner who can’t return the favor. If we make it a point to invite the least, "the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind," to dine with us, then while at table with them, we just might enter into new relationships. Not only would the poor be fed, but we would discover that Christ who identifies most closely with them.  This is for us, Eucharist.  The Sabbath meal that has in fact, become Christ for us.

We may be living in very different in the world, but here at Eucharist we are family. What have we learned about one another at this table? When we leave this worship space, what can we do for others?  Those whom Jesus would have us love the way he loves them, and us.

We are all called to the table.  In being involved in life, we humbly sit at the lower place and do what we can, until called to that higher place. 

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

blessed in deed will you be because of their inability

to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Thanks to Jude!