Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today, the story is told of Jesus attending a dinner at the house of a leading Pharisee. Many guests are assembled who “were observing him carefully.”
In the midst of this elite group of people, Jesus tells a parable that reminds them that there are many more who will be invited to the banquet he will host someday, and he encourages all who hear him to do the same. Here is the twist Jesus gives on the invitation list: “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
My first question is this: Would we want to sit with Jesus at his table?
We should be careful before we answer too quickly, because if we want to sit with Jesus at his banquet, than we should be ready to sit with some people who are very different that we are. Remember, Jesus dined casually with saints and sinners alike. He was at ease with the people at the bottom of the barrel, like prostitutes, as well as those near the top, like his good friend Lazarus. Rich or poor, Jesus would gather all manner of people to himself.
So, perhaps we would be honored to sit with the rich and famous, like Jesus sometimes did. But would we be so comfortable sitting with someone who was poor? Would we shy away from the person with a nasty illness, or a drug addict, or an undocumented person? And what if we were asked to sit next to the person suffering from severe mental illness; would we ask to be seated elsewhere? Are we so sure that we would want to sit with the gang that Jesus gathers around himself routinely and says that they will have choice seats in the Kingdom?
But there is another question. Would Jesus feel comfortable sitting with us? If there was ever a time when he seemed to object to those sitting with him, it was with those who felt superior to others, those who lacked humility, and those who refused to learn from his way of love and sacrifice. They were sent to the back of the room, while the underserved and forgotten were asked to sit up higher.
As a Church, Jesus has gathered all sorts of people together. Jesus is the great equalizer. He feeds all who come to him humbly and devotedly with the same Body and Blood, the same merciful forgiveness, the same welcome and compassion. The only ones who seem rejected by him are those who have rejected others out of arrogance and self-righteousness.
Have a blessed Sunday and a restful Labor Day.