There are some scripture passages that I take exception to and this is one of them. I’m never quite sure what to do with it. I wrestle with it – and maybe I want to judge it. Somehow I have trouble reconciling the teller of this story with the Jesus I see portrayed in scripture – who tells us to turn the other cheek - who welcomes all to come in, who turns away none. Jesus accepts tax collectors and sinners and heals the lame and the ill. Even in the one incidence where someone (beside the Pharisees and other officials) turns away – it is still the free choice of the person who was invite in.
Only two gospel writers tell this story, Matthew and Luke. Luke ends the story with the people coming in and there is still room so he sends the servant out again to bring in more people. Luke makes no mention of any killing or mis-treating- either by the invited guests or by the banquet giver.
In reading Matthew’s version of this story, he appears to be angry, and I don’t know what to do with his anger. Luke was a gentile – Matthew a Jew. I think Matthew is quite angry that his community is not welcome in the synagogue because they follow Jesus. I think Matthew is like the author of Psalm 137 who wants to smash babies against the rock because Jerusalem was destroyed.
Most of the commentaries report that this parable tells of a king (God) who invited the people (the Israelites) to his banquet – to feast at his table. But they turned away and even when he sent his servants (the prophets), they were ignored and mistreated and some even killed. So he dis-invites his guests and reaches out to a new group – blood lines don’t matter – position, power and wealth don’t matter. Anyone who will listen and come in is welcome.
Now Luke stops his story right there and we get the wonderful picture of a God who is willing to fellowship with anyone – with everyone – everyone who accepts his invitation - no exceptions. But Matthew – wants to exclude someone – Matthew, who was raised as a Jew - with the concept of a God who picks and chooses – a God who blesses and curses. Matthew, as a Jew, wants to exclude certain people. He wants people punished when they don’t do things the way he wants.
Jesus himself invites the rich young man to come follow – he does set a condition – and the young man decides to walk away. Jesus does not exclude him.
For me it’s the same way. This lesson ends with “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Boy, did that ever do a number on me! For far too long I believed that I was one of those who would never be chosen. And that was a mantra for me, “Oh yes, I’ve been called, but I’ll never be chosen.”
What I had to finally understand was that we are all called – each and every one of us. God is not willing for any of us to perish and he gives us every opportunity to come in. But we are the ones doing the choosing. Do we choose to follow or like the rich young man, do we choose to turn away?
I guess the part I have trouble with is the weeping and gnashing of teeth – the being bound and the cast out. I think the older I get, the more trouble I have with this. I suppose I get my vision of heaven and hell from C. S. Lewis. In his book, “The Great Divorce,” hell is depicted as a dank, dark and dismal place – a place that is continually dusk and where it is always raining – where people wander aimlessly and no one speaks kindly to another. Lewis posits a place in the midst of this darkness where people are given a last chance to visit bright heaven and to cast off the darkness that keeps them separated from the presence of God.
The other vision of heaven/hell that he gives is from the Narnia series in “The Last Battle.” As the battle is raging the world begins to crumble and the sky begins to fall in. Aslan encourages and ushers everyone who will come to enter the ‘hut’ on the hill which is the gateway to the new kingdom. It is a bright and bold and happy place but the dwarves who had been thrown into the hut earlier sit around the fire with their eyes closed refusing to see the glory that has appeared around them. They remain in that self-made hell because they have convinced themselves that that was all there is.
So we are back to the man who is cast out. And why? Because he wasn’t wearing the proper clothes. There are places here on earth that there is a ‘dress code’ and if you are not wearing the proper attire, you are asked to leave. But here we have a guy (Jesus) who is advocating radical hospitality and he tells a story where he invites everyone in and then kicks out one person because he didn’t wear the right clothes.
What is being said here is that there is a cost - a price - for following Jesus. We have to be willing to accept him, not only as savior, but also as Lord. And we have to allow him to come into our life and begin to change us - to mold us into his own image. We are to put on Jesus Christ and his righteousness.
This is an easy parable, I guess, if you are certain that you have the proper garment, but for those who struggle with faith or what they see of Christianity, it’s not so easy. The point is that Jesus accepts us right where we are, but he doesn’t leave us there. All through the gospels we see him healing people and driving out the demons that hold them captive. He will do that for us also - we simply have to allow him to work within us.
I remember a young man (college student) in Huntsville who showed up at church one Sunday morning in dirty running shorts, a muscle shirt, with his tattoos and various body jewelry standing out. He said he only came to borrow a prayerbook and he obviously didn’t meet the dress code for church attendance, but he was encouraged to come in and once there he was treated like everyone else. The following Sunday he showed up in clean cutoffs and a regular t-shirt. Once again he was accepted just as he was. Eventually his dress improved as he came back Sunday after Sunday. He was looking to be accepted – and he was met where he was, in the condition he was in, and he was accepted.
Radical hospitality accepts people where they are – and allow them the time and space to grow into the grace that has been extended to them. And in the process, the rags they wear will eventually become garments of praise.
And the invitation still goes out even today:
Come, won’t you come, for the banquet is laid.
Won’t you come, for the feast is prepared.
Won’t you come, won’t you come.
Amen.
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