Our readings this week focus our thoughts on all who are included in the Kingdom of God. It is not just the ‘in crowd’—those who believe “correctly” or say the “right” words. God’s Kingdom and love are more expansive and inclusive than that!
Isaiah (56:1, 6-8) starts off by saying the foreigners
who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord…I
will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for
my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. This
promise is the motto of the Washington National Cathedral—a house of prayer for
all peoples.
In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he claims to be an
Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. Then
he goes on to insist that by the mercy shown to you [Gentiles], they
[Hebrews] too may now receive mercy. Apparently, there were some even at
this early stage in the church who claimed that God had rejected the Jewish
nation and that salvation was only for the Gentiles. Of course, there was also
the opposite faction that insisted that only circumcised Jews could be
Followers of Jesus. It is a sad commentary on our need to make divisions rather
than include others in our faith. God is not so picky.
On first reading, the Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28) telling of
Jesus with the Canaanite woman could be used as an argument for keeping non-Jews
out of the church. He engages in a conversation with her, initially insisting
I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Bravely, she
refuses to take no for an answer, responding, even the dogs eat the crumbs
that fall from their masters’ table. This argument convinces Jesus, and
her daughter was healed instantly. Jesus himself realizes that God is not
limited by borders or man-made labels. All are welcome. (For an interesting
meditation on this passage, read Debra Asis’ blog this week.)
Psalm 67 is an invitation to let the peoples praise you,
O God; let all the peoples praise you. As the Living Bible translation
notes, peoples from remotest lands will worship him. In his book Ladder
to the Light, Bishop Steven Charleston says we need to remember our kinship
with all creation. He notes that “kinship means not conformity, but relationship—deep
spiritual relationship.” He says, “the ancient wisdom of hospitality becomes a
powerful symbol. It tells us to remember our common condition. It calls for us
to act in ways that defy the fear of difference.” That connection and
hospitality toward all creation is invitation to worship and praise to God,
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer of all.
It is too easy and comforting to put up barriers. Rules
about who is ‘in’ or ‘out’ give us a false sense of security. God, again and
again, refutes this viewpoint. As Bishop Charleston reminds us, “a liberated
community of kinship, a creation renewed by the power of the Spirit” can, in
the words of the Psalm prepare the path for [God]. All are welcome at
the table.
It is not always easy to open our hearts to those people and ideas who may make us feel uncomfortable. (As Debra Asis points out, often that is rooted in fear.) But that kinship with the stranger is just what God invites us to do… I think this image captures my feelings and perhaps yours too. It’s nice to say, ‘you are welcome here,’ but can be uncomfortable to interact with some people. The disciples may have felt that way about the Canaanite woman. We can infer from the early letters to the churches that there was confusion and even conflict between the Jewish and Gentile believers. Maybe we can hear the invitation of Spirit and begin to model a new way of inclusive welcome that is more like God’s dream of the Kingdom.
Who do you list on your ‘in’ list? Who is not welcome at
your table?
Is God asking you to rethink your boundaries?
|
Psalm 67 1 May God be merciful
to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us. (Book of Common Prayer) |
O God, in mercy
bless us; let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. (Living Bible) |
