Proper 23 A + The feast + 10.11.20
All Saints, Oxnard
(Exodus 32:1–14 Ps.
106:1–6, 19–23 Phil. 4:1–9 St Matthew 22:1–14)
I was excited but nervous when I called a friend and fellow
pastor this week. His given name is Darren and he is a Disciples of Christ
pastor who also happens to be a younger black man serving in a largely white
denomination. He is also a Christian rap artist who performs as Theo Blue. And
his music videos, including one he calls “The Same”[1]
have convicted me as a Christian and as a white person living in America.
Theo Blue’s work calls up the profound differences between the
experience of black Americans and Americans of color, and white Euro-Americans.
We are the same human race, but our experience is not the same. There are many
disparities between how our siblings of color live and white siblings live in
the US. How free do we each feel? When one group can never escape the fact of
their skin and another rarely seems to be aware of the privilege their skin
gives them, we have a lot to work on. And Theo Blue’s music tries to do a bit
of that work.
I was calling in part to reach out to a friend I highly
respect, but I also had another motive. I wanted to brainstorm about something.
Our local group of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice wants to do
something to add to the conversation about racial reconciliation. And I thought
what if we could do something using a piece of Theo Blue’s music and having a
conversation about it? But I was also aware that I did not want to impose
overmuch on my friend. So I prayed and I trust God’s grace was a part of the
conversation.
As a white person in America, I am aware that we have a lot
of work to do right now. To be frank it is pretty daunting. After centuries of
wrong thinking, how can we think ourselves right? This is not to say we are
always thinking wrong, but there is still a lot to process. My friend referred
me to a book called White Too Long by
Robert P. Jones about how Christianity in America has undergirded some of the
tenets of white supremacy. The author speaks from his experience in the
Southern Baptist Church, but we know that the Episcopal Church has also been
complicit in racism in its past and sometimes in its present. How do we do
right by all Episcopalians? And all Americans, indeed by all people in God’s
diverse creation?
And then we come to a passage like the passage today from
Matthew, and we are reminded that our life with Jesus is a feast! It sounds a bit
jarring to my ears in light of the pandemic and ongoing work on racial
reconciliation.
Because before we get into the other nitty gritty, let’s be
clear. God is inviting us to a party here! Life is meant to be joyful, at least
at times. The tremendous diversity of God’s creation is a part of the feast we
are to enjoy. And we are asked to accept God’s invitation joyfully and openly.
But if you are like me, you aren’t always great at saying
“yes” to God the first time. You don’t always feel up to it. Which makes me so
grateful that, as one commentator pointed out about this reading, that God is a
God who keeps inviting us.[2]
And it humbles me to remember that God also keeps inviting everyone, even the
folks we may think don’t belong at the party. The only requirement is that we
respond to the invitation and come appropriately attired.
Well of course that is a metaphor. This is a “come as you are”
kind of church and I believe in a “come as you are” kind of God. But the truth
is that we all know what it is to show up for the party internally ready and
what it is to show up in your schleppy self not ready to party with God. And
God wants us to be ready. Which is not always easy to do. But God will keep
inviting us. Until we are ready to make that step to fully accept and live into
the diverse party that is God’s creation.
This was good news for the Israelites after they totally
messed up and made a golden calf to worship right after God asked them to
worship only God, and Moses got them off the hook. As long as they promised to
worship God from now on.
This is certainly good news for white Christians in America.
We need to learn how to put down our drinks and listen to others. How to revel
in the diversity of everything and everyone that God has created. And not be
stuck in who or what groups we think are worth saving.
Now you would not be wrong if you found parts of this parable
disturbing. Why such a terrible fate for the poor person who wears the wrong
thing? People have pointed out over the years that the Matthean community was
more than a bit traumatized due the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and
other violent events. So we need to read this passage with some grace for those
who, while divinely inspired, wrote it in the midst of their own pain. Not too
dissimilar from other people now that we might want to hold off before judging
when they seem to have more extreme reactions than we would due to trauma.
I think Paul’s words to the Philippians bear repeating as we
consider God’s good work amongst us, not only in racial reconciliation but also
in the work of being a nation right now as we undergo this election time.
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have
learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be
with you.”
May the God of peace be with you, no matter what table you are invited to party
at with God. And may we each of us embrace the amazing diversity of God’s
creation as we join in the feast!
Amen.
[2]
Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, Joy J Moore and Matt Skinner, “Working Preacher
Sermon Brainwave Podcast #746- Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost,” for October
11, 2020, found at: https://www.workingpreacher.org/brainwave.aspx?podcast_id=1302.
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