Jesus uses a parable about a “wedding feast” to describe “the Kingdom of God.” Initially invited guests, representing the kingdom of Israel, refuse to come. The celebration is now open to everyone as servants are told, “Go out into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.” Later, it is discovered one guest “was not dressed in a wedding garment.” Servants are instructed to “cast him into the darkness outside.” What is the meaning for Jesus’ Community of the guest who lacks the wedding garment?
Wearing a wedding garment means establishing a relationship with the man planning the celebration. According to the tradition of the time, wedding garments were provided by that planner. Not having a garment means the guest did not make his presence known to the one giving the party. He was using the gathering for what he could get out of it instead of being a loving participant. The guest is comparable to people currently calling themselves ‘Christian’ but are using Jesus’ Community of God for what they can get out of it. If they were loving participants in it they would be available to reach out to ‘whomever they might find on the road’ – gay, lesbian, trans or Muslim, Black, immigrant or liberal, antifascist, socialist. As it is, self-titled christians are enemy conscious supremacists rather than loving with such persons, in face to face encounters and on right wing media, social media, and religious news sites. Their own websites prove their enemy consciousness as do independent sources like the ADL, SPLC, Homeland Security, FBI, Klan Watch, etcetera. Statistical analysis proves white supremacists who self-titled as Christian are increasingly targeting such people with hate crimes escalating to domestic terrorism. Also proving MAGA leans toward hate is a research project in Sweden, The Varieties of Democracy Project. It shows that the more rulers like Trump initiate hateful rhetoric, the more their followers will initiate hateful terrorism. In addition, The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, has an Atrocity Alert. It makes a compelling case that increased rhetoric, hate crimes, and domestic terrorism in the U.S., is increasing the potential for atrocity in the U.S. Hatred to violence to atrocity is happening through the militarization of police, targeting historically vulnerable people (women, Natives, Blacks), harmful financial policies (Covid response), and threats against an independent media (“enemy of the people”). It is especially happening through Trump who is enflaming hate and enflaming his supporters with hate. Again and again shows he is like the man in the Gospel who lacks a wedding garment; using any gathering for what he can get out of it. We who are loving participants in Jesus’ Community of God need to build up social and economic equality, tell the truth, demilitarize life let alone the police, and reject MAGA’s public hatred that is threatened and/or enacted through hate speech, graffiti, mailings, fist fights, kicking, bullying, hangings, defacing, riots, kidnapping, arson, bomb makings, and shootings. To call oneself Christian / Christ-like and to enact, condone, or be silent about this hate toward the Christs of our time is to be like the man without the garment at the wedding. It is to enjoy superficial prestige in a U.S. church using it for what they can get out of it. At the same time they reject celebrating the Community of God with Jesus and the rest of us gathered from the road. They will not make their loving presence known.
“God is no more present in church than in a drinking bar, but we generally are more present to God in church than we are in a drinking bar. The problem of presence is not with God, but with us.” (Sheila Cassidy)
Prayer: Spirit of Love, we are present to all.
Question: In whom do I need to acknowledge the Presence of Christ?
October 11, 2020 Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time