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Readings for August 14,2011
The Inclusive Kingdom of God
The readings for this Sunday are a reminder for us of the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of God. Given the state of politics in our country, today's readings are a fresh reminder of the Kingdom of God and who is invited to the table of the Kingdom.
Israel's primary ethical obligation was social responsibility. By accepting the faith of the Canaanite woman, Jesus expands his mission and the Israelites social responsibility to include not only the Canaanite woman and Canaanite people but all people as well. By expanding his mission, He also expands our ethical obligation to include everyone. In other words, everyone is to have a place at the table. No one is excluded. What is our call in today's readings? Are we called to follow the example of Jesus and make room at the table? Jesus was persuaded by the faith of the Canaanite woman to invite her to the table. By inviting her to the table, Jesus expanded his ministry to the Gentiles. This is an example of how we are to grow our faith and expand our community.
Jews at the time of Jesus had little use for the Canaanite people. They were an ignored and marginalized group. Yet Jesus went out of his way to go to their region, a land of Gentiles. Why? It almost seems like Jesus created a set up to teach his disciples and us a lesson. A set up that He uses to expand his ministry and open minds to the inclusiveness of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God that Jesus was proclaiming.
If we are called to expand the Kingdom of God, who are we called to invite into the kingdom? We can start by asking the question; who are the ignored and marginalized in our community? Who are the ignored and marginalized in Oak Park, in Illinois, in the United States and in the world? Who are the ignored?
Today there are voices heard in the budget debates and other discussions that are attempting to limit the places at the table in the guise of fiscal responsibility. They say we can't afford to include everyone anymore. Can we as Catholic Christians afford to not make sure everyone is invited? Like the Canaanite woman, everyone is invited. They have been invited by God and who are we to say there is not room for them? It is not our place. Our place is to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table. Some say that only those with means can sit at the table or only those who think like me can have a seat. The current budget crisis is an example of how some want to exclude those most in need.
To paraphrase Richard Rohr, instead of worrying about whether everyone has enough so they can get to the table, we worry more about what the table costs. What is Jesus calling us to do to make sure there is room for everyone at the table? That is our charge for this week and every week, to work to ensure that everyone, not just those we like or agree with but that everyone has a place at the table in the Kingdom of God.
Roger Vandervest is a deacon at Ascension Parish and works as a hospital chaplain.
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