Some people seem to be “on edge” these days. I even read about a feud between a preacher and a music director.
The preacher challenged his congregation to go forth in service. The music director put forth the hymn “I Shall Not Be Moved.”
Next, the subject was giving. The musical response: “Jesus Paid It All.” And so it went, zinger after zinger. The preacher finally said Jesus led him here but now was calling him elsewhere. The musical reply was “What A Friend We Have in Jesus!” Yes, don’t mess with the music director.
Seriously, some people wonder about global conflicts, the economy, how things will evolve. These concerns are not new, as the word of God reminds us.
First, we go up to a mountaintop. Mountaintops in the bible symbolize God’s presence. Think Sinai, Zion, Tabor. The centuries-ago author of this section of Isaiah writes poetically about a future in which God gathers all people together for a banquet. Choice wines, delicious foods. It's like a party with God. It's a vision of salvation: no more death, no more grief.
Isaiah may be asking us: what is our vision? If it's living in God's presence forever, what are we doing now to make that vision a reality? This calls for a careful look at today's realities.
Paul in his letter to the Christian community at Philippi in Greece describes his life: sometimes he has plenty; other times, not enough. So be it! What matters most is preaching the good news that Jesus Christ is alive, and because he lives, we live.
Paul writes that he can do all things through the God who lives within him, who loves him unconditionally. Paul may be asking us: do we trust in God's love for us, especially when things don’t seem to be going our way.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a king who invites his so-called friends to a banquet. They decline for one reason or another. So, the king says: forget these fair-weather friends, and go out into the streets and invite whomever you find.
God invites to the banquet of eternal life all people in a right relationship with God. As Pope Francis writes in his letter “Fratelli Tutti” (brothers and sisters all), Jesus asks us that we “become neighbors to all,” and not simply decide who is our neighbor.
“Food for thought.” It's amazing how a meal can bring people together. Think of the wonderful things that often take place at our tables: important transitions, birthdays, graduations, etc.
You may have seen the classic movie “Babette's Feast.” It was an academy award winner. It's also a favorite film of Pope Francis.
Babette, a French chef, finds herself in a small town where people are austere, judgmental, afraid to enjoy anything or anyone. Babette unexpectedly wins a lottery and spends all her winnings to prepare a huge, delectable feast for the townspeople. As they begin to taste and enjoy the meal, they start to communicate good-naturedly. They even dance! The meal transforms them into warm-hearted human beings.
Babette models self-giving, and elicits joy in people, a foretaste of heaven. The toast at the end captures why, I think, Pope Francis likes the movie. Here's a paraphrase:“There comes a time when your eyes are opened. And we come to realize…that mercy is infinite. We need only await it with confidence…and receive it with gratitude.”
As I reflected upon “Babette's Feast” I thought about relationships, especially family relationships.
Happy families have a good, solid sense of togetherness. They care about one another. They keep in touch; they’re hospitable, concerned about elderly relatives and youngsters.
Families celebrate milestones together, like baptisms, birthdays, confirmations, graduations, marriages and anniversaries. They take responsibility for chores; they spend time together and set times to eat together where they share good news as well as not so good. They keep their word, and thereby build up trust in their relationships.
And they know how to distinguish behavior from judgments about a person. They avoid negative "name-calling." Finally, we may simply agree to disagree about an issue. That's okay if it keeps us together.
The following recipe will help sustain ourselves and our relationships:
Think…it's the source of power.
Read…it's the fountain of wisdom.
Pray…it's the greatest power on earth.
Love and be loved…it's a God-given privilege.
Laugh…it’s the muse of the soul.
Work...it's the price of success.
And do good for others…it's the road to happiness and the
key to the heavenly banquet.
Amen!
