Tuesday, XXXI Week of Ordinary Time
(Luke 14:15-24)
There is an old story about an African-American who meets God outside of a church. He apologizes to the Lord saying that he wants to enter the church but the people inside won’t let him in. God responds that He too has been trying to get inside that church for years but the same people won’t let Him in either.
The story represents a valid way to read today’s gospel parable. At one time, not that long ago, American churches were segregated. African-Americans were either prohibited from entering a white congregation or forced to sit apart from whites. This might not have but the pastor’s wish, but it was in many places a de facto practice. Jesus, of course, would never accept such a policy. We can rightly hear him comparing the segregationists to those who were invited to the great Eucharistic banquet at the end of time but who refuse to attend. Blacks and the poor will then take their places in heaven.
Today, however, we see the parable in a very different light. As everyone knows, church attendance has dwindled in the United States. People give various excuses that may sound similar to the ones in the parable – they are too busy; they are working; they are expecting company. Others then will receive the call to fill the churches. These people will also occupy places at the Eucharistic banquet in heaven. In American Catholic churches the newcomers are largely immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment