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 present himself to or connect with the one giving the party. He was using the gathering for what he could get out of it but refusing to be a loving participant. That makes the guest comparable to those who currently call themselves ‘Christian’ but do not present themselves to nor connect with the loving Jesus and refuse to be a loving participant in Jesus’ Community of God. Participating in Jesus’ Community includes being present to ‘whomever they might find on the road.’ But what if who they find is gay, lesbian, trans or Muslim, Black, immigrant or liberal, antifascist, socialist? Self-titled christians habitually profess hate toward these persons in face to face encounters and on right wing general media, social media, and religious news sites as proven by independent sources; ADL, SPLC, Homeland Security, FBI, Klan Watch,…. Worse, that same statistical analysis proves they are increasingly targeting such people with hate crimes escalating to domestic terrorism. Hate crimes and domestic terrorism are committed by biased people who initiate violence. They are not to be confused with ‘the many people we find along the road,’ people historically targeted with hate some small percentage of whom may react criminally against property, as in looting. The Varieties of Democracy Project in Sweden, shows that the more rulers like Trump initiate rhetorical violence, the more their followers will initiate domestic terrorism violence. In addition, The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, in its Atrocity Alert, 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 unto violence unto atrocity is being advanced via the militarization of police, targeting historically vulnerable people (Blacks), harmful financial policies (Covid response), threats against an independent media (“enemy of the people”) and a ruler, like Trump, who is actively enflaming these elements and enflaming his supporters. Demilitarizing the police, structuring social and economic equality, truth telling, and denying on public forums hate speech from the white supremacist Trump and his supporting militia members is needed. They are threatening and/or enacting hate through rhetoric, 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 while refusing to be present to or connected with the loving Jesus. Self-titled chrisians are simply refusing to join in the celebration that is Jesus’ loving Community. That Community is all of us gathered from the road who are present and loving with all our brothers and sisters.
“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