Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop
(Romans 12:5-16ab; 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 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. 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 invited to the great Eucharistic banquet
at the end of time. As in today’s gospel, these invited ones 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 the
places at the Eucharistic banquet in heaven.
In American Catholic churches the newcomers are largely immigrants from Asia,
Latin America, and Africa.
