Pentecost 14 – September 2, 2007

When I was in school, many times in phys. ed.  teams got chosen by the student leaders.  Invariably, I got chosen close to last.   Everybody, including me,  knew that I was not very gifted at sports.  I loved to play, but I wasn’t much help to a team.  I got used to the fact that I had to wait to be picked.  However, for a long time I never got over that feeling of not being good enough.  In fact, as soon as I got to high school, I dropped phys.  ed. (it wasn’t required back then in Ontario).  

Yet one invitation I received gave me a new perspective about the athletic abilities I did possess.  I was in Cubs.  One day we went out to a Scout camp.  The leader informed us we were going to do running and exercises, in an attempt to complete our Athletic badge.  I groaned, fearing, and knowing, that I could never make it.  On and on the evening went, and in each event I always fell short of the goal.  Yet, each time the leader encouraged me to do the next one. 

After the competition was all over, the leader called us together and started handing out badges.  To my great surprise, he called out my name.  When I came forward, he handed me my badge.  I protested that there must be a mistake.  Instead, he told me that I received this badge, not because I had been the best, but because I had done my best.  The leader had included me, and a few others with my same capabilities, because we were Cubs, and we had lived up to our motto.

This coming Sunday, Jesus is at a dinner.  He tells the host that in the future he should not invite those who are supposed, expected, to be invited.  Rather, he should invite all those sitting on the outside, those chosen last, those not chosen at all.   This Jesus says, will reflect the kingdom of heaven, where God will gather all people together, regardless of stature or ability.  It will be so different than expected.  It will be so good.

Whom can we invite now into our banquets, our activities, whom we might be leaving on the outside?  Whom can we invite in, to help us see a larger image of God’s kingdom?  There are many waiting to be called.  Do we dare take that step?  Or are we one of the ones waiting?   Send/wait for that invitation…

August 19 – Pentecost 12

I’ve arrived back at this space, after vacation, to discover that the reading for this coming Sunday, Luke 12:49-56, is one that I would rather avoid!  Jesus tells his disciples and the crowds that he has not come to bring peace to the earth but rather division.  This disunity will be so severe that it will break apart highly-valued family relationships.  He says that his message contains a fire that once kindled will burn until his baptism — his ministry, death, and resurrection — are completed. 

I suppose that we could relegate these words to the archives, saying that Jesus’ baptism is now accomplished, and that divine peace has replaced divine fire.  Yet, I fear that if we do so, we set aside an important facet of the Gospel.  Jesus’ messages of love, grace, and reconciliation are not just words to make us feel good and comfortable.  Instead, I believe that God through them continues to both invite and challenge us.  

Living by faith, putting into action what we hear God saying, we  sometimes have to make difficult decisions about living out God’s vision for our lives and for the world.  This might include how we relate to others, government, leaders, the marginalised, etc…

However in the midst of this, I hear messages in other parts of the Bible which suggest that Jesus does see such division as permanent, or even good.  So we hear in our 2nd lesson this week, Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2, that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.  God didn’t break down the walls of sin so that we might build more.  Instead, the Creator promises to keep working in us and through to cause barriers to fall down and to build a new community.   In the midst of our disunity, we can pray that God uses us in this creating, so that one day, all people might come together to praise God.